Unlike many of the rapidly-growing communities with which Teska works, the City of Wheaton is a maturing community, characterized by strong residential neighborhoods, extensive open space, regional connections, and the presence of important institutions. Therefore, the Comprehensive Plan Update was not intended to re-invent the community, but rather to reinforce and enhance existing conditions.
The Plan focuses on three primary goals: to stabilize and enhance existing neighborhoods, to address changes in neighborhood character brought about by activities such as residential tear-downs, and to study specific areas that have been or will undergo change. The Plan includes a chapter on community character, which establishes existing conditions in the City as a framework for future development decisions. Four Special Area Plans provide more detailed recommendations for the downtown, the areas surrounding Wheaton College, and two commercial corridors.