Three years of planning will culminate Thursday during a public hearing for the county’s 25-year comprehensive plan, titled A Path to the Future.

The long range planning process for the comprehensive plan included town hall meetings and community building workshops in which planning staff collected input from residents.

The plan focuses on a place-making planning theme that supports centralized, village-type developments such as Mt. Laurel in North Shelby County.

During the public meetings, members of the planning staff said residents wanted developments within walking access of schools and shopping.

Following Thursday’s public hearing, the planning staff will consider adjusting the plan before presenting it to county commissioners for adoption.

The draft comprehensive plan is available for download at the Shelby County Commission web site. It is also available at the County Services Building in Pelham and the County Administration Building in Columbiana.

The public hearing is Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the County Services Building in Pelham