The development of a land use and development plan for Burlington's Downtown and Waterfront has been a long-standing action-item in the City Municipal Development Plan since at east 1996. In September 2009, the City Planning Commission and Dept. of Planning & Zoning were directed by the City Council to develop a scope of work, timeline, and budget for such a project. While many other planning efforts involving the downtown or waterfront have taken place over the years, none have been as comprehensive in scope and strategic in design.