When Delhi Charter Township set out to update its 2013 Master Plan, expectations for engagement were modest. Spalding DeDecker (SD) and community advisor Mark Jenks saw an opportunity to exceed them. Leveraging new census data, market research, and contemporary planning practices, the team built a forward-looking plan that reflects today’s economic realities and community aspirations.
To overcome participation fatigue, SD brought the planning process to the people, attending township events, joining organizational meetings, and distributing handouts, yard signs, and online surveys. Every touchpoint made it easier for residents to share their voices.
The result: more than 15,000 residents were reached, producing a plan rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Adopted in 2023, Delhi’s new Master Plan sets a clear, implementable roadmap, one shaped not only by data, but by the people who call Delhi home.
