# Concept plan

A concept plan is an early, rough layout of a proposed project that a city reviews before the developer files formal applications. Also called sketch plan, conceptual plan, or pre-application plan.

Data as of Oct 11, 2026. Page: https://boardwalkai.com/glossary/concept-plan/

## What it is

A concept plan shows the general layout, uses, and size of a project before detailed engineering. Cities review it to give early feedback, usually without a binding decision.

## What it tells you

A concept plan is one of the earliest public signs of a project, before a rezoning or plat is filed. Details may change, but the site, the developer, and the rough size are often known.

## How it moves through a city or county

1. The developer submits a rough layout, often after a pre-application meeting.
2. Staff comment on zoning, roads, and utilities.
3. In some places the planning commission or council discusses it at a public meeting.
4. Formal applications follow, such as a rezoning, plat, or site plan.

Some places require a concept or sketch plan for large projects; others make it optional or skip the step. Its review is usually not binding.

Rules vary by state, county, and city. These pages describe common practice, not legal advice.

## Recent concept plans

From public filings in Minnesota, Ohio, and Tennessee.

| Project | Location | Developer | Type | Size | Stage | Latest meeting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140-Pad Manufactured Home Park on 35 Acres | Clinton Township, OH | LNC, LLC | Manufactured homes | 140 units · 35 acres | Approved | Jul 16, 2026 |
| 100-Unit Residential Development on 30.8 Acres | Lonsdale, MN | SML Holdings LLC | Single-family | 100 homes · 30.8 acres | Approved | Feb 25, 2026 |
| 16-Unit Duplex Development on 5.98 Acres | Kingston, TN | Old Capitol Town LLC | Duplexes to fourplexes | 16 units · 5.98 acres | Seeking approval | May 19, 2026 |

Samples show projects filed by companies or public bodies.

## Find it on Boardwalk

Search Boardwalk for "concept plan" or "sketch plan". [Start free trial](https://boardwalkai.com/auth/signup/)

## Related terms

- [Site plan](https://boardwalkai.com/glossary/site-plan/): A site plan is a drawing of a project on its lot, showing buildings, parking, access, and landscaping, reviewed against the code.
- [Planned unit development](https://boardwalkai.com/glossary/planned-unit-development/): A planned unit development, or PUD, is a custom zoning district for one project, with its own rules for uses and density.
- [Entitlement](https://boardwalkai.com/glossary/entitlement/): Entitlement is the process of getting the government approvals needed to develop land, such as rezonings, plats, use permits, and variances.

## Common questions

### Does approving a concept plan approve the project?

Approving a concept plan usually doesn't approve the project. The review gives feedback, and the project still needs its formal approvals, such as a rezoning, plat, or site plan.

### Is a concept plan public?

A concept plan becomes part of the public record once it reaches a planning commission or council agenda. Plans reviewed only by staff may never be posted.

## Get the full data

- **Count for free.** Connect Boardwalk to Claude or ChatGPT and ask how many projects match. Counting is free during your trial and on every plan. [Use it in Claude or ChatGPT](https://boardwalkai.com/mcp/)
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## How to cite

Source: Boardwalk, "Concept plan", boardwalkai.com/glossary/concept-plan/, data as of Oct 11, 2026.

How we count: https://boardwalkai.com/coverage/#how-we-count