Housing and Neighborhoods. Elwood provides a full range of housing opportunities which preserves the character, vitality and safety of neighborhoods.

Community Development. Elwood maintains a predictable development process and provide incentives to attract targeted industries and create new jobs. Develop projects that enhance the economy, the community and the environment.

Jobs and Shopping. Elwood is a commercial and job center that supplies valuable products and services; embraces sustainable solutions; cultivates family-supporting careers; and offers opportunities to grow small businesses and entrepreneurial endeavors.

Natural Resources and Recreation. Elwood enjoys vibrant parks, bikeways, trails, and natural landscapes; is a careful steward of water and other resources; and is a center for culture, recreation, hospitality, and entertainment.

Education. Elwood is known for quality education, lifelong learning opportunities to meet modern workforce demands, and support entrepreneurship. Elwood embraces collaboration with education providers and neighboring communities.

Sustainability. Elwood is a sustainable community in all aspects – from the environment to the economy – and fosters responsible community growth and redevelopment.

Special Place. Elwood celebrates its rich heritage and historical contributions from Presidential candidates to Olympians.

Transportation. Elwood is centrally located and accessible by three state highways and railway service making it convenient and cost effective for business, services and residents.

Community Value. Elwood enjoys exceptional services at reasonable costs, a competitive cost of living, and provides youth programs and recreational sports of all types.

Regionalism. Elwood is well connected to the central Indiana region and the Indianapolis Metropolitan area.


Comprehensive Plans

The comprehensive plan is a vision statement containing general guidelines for development in a local jurisdiction. The plan is implemented through the zoning code. The zoning code contains concrete rules defining which uses (commercial, residential, etc.) are allowed in each area of town and specifying certain restrictions on those uses, such as economic impact standards or limits on the scale of buildings.

Strong comprehensive plans yield a number of important benefits. In addition to serving as the framework for zoning, plans provide land use officials with guidelines for reviewing development permits and applications to rezone certain sites. Comprehensive plans also provide additional legal protection if a particular land use decision is challenged in court.