The preservation of character was the Town's primary goal in developing a Land Use Plan, which involves the following issues:

• Annexation from surrounding municipalities
• Preserving the natural character of unbuilt areas
• Redevelopment policies for lake properties
• Standards for Residential Cluster Development
• Restricting commercial development to specific areas where the infrastructure can support the traffic and the use is compatible with surrounding uses

Because a land use plan cannot be successfully implemented when only physical factors are taken into account, PDI's innovative approach to land use plans includes social and economic factors as well; the community inventory, goals and objectives, and resident input all help determine how the identity of the Town can best be preserved and enhanced. Key factors include:

• Civic identity
• Job creation and value
• Land development - how the land feels, what types of development are allowed and where the development is located

In addition to public hearings and workshops, Delafield gathered input on commercial development issues by establishing an Economic Development Committee. This group met to review the proposed plan and to provide comments to the Plan Commission. Critical commercial development issues include:

• Acceptable locations for commercial and mixed-use development
• Types and sizes of commercial and mixed-use development
• Development regulations acceptable to business and property owners

Land use districts were created to reflect the type of land development appropriate for a specific area. Performance standards for each district identify how the place is created and what it should feel like. Districts define types of development rather than just land use (as is typical of zoning ordinances). Graphic illustrations throughout the plan explain and illustrate concepts and recommendations. Some issues related to character include:

• Roadside Edges - what it looks like as you drive down the road
• I-94 Development - recommendations for commercial and mixed-use development along the interstate
• Residential Cluster Development - preserves land with smaller lots but the same density