A comprehensive plan is a local government's guide to community, physical, social, and economic development. Comprehensive plans are not meant to serve as land use regulations in themselves; instead, they provide a rational basis for local land use decisions with a twenty-year vision for future planning and community decisions.

The land use planning process in Buffalo County was initiated by the Buffalo County Extension Agriculture Agent in December of 1997. After hearing the agent’s presentation on the need for a land use plan, Town of Milton officials invited a diverse group of residents and non-residents to serve on a planning committee.  Under the guidance of the Extension Agent, a Land Use Plan was created and approved by the Milton Town Board on April 21, 2004.

In 2013, another group was convened to update the Land Use Plan. The group met several times and revised the previous plan, completing its final draft in January of 2014.  While the plan served as a useful guide, it was never formally approved as a comprehensive plan pursuant to Wis. Stat. Sec. 66.1001.

In 2020, the Town Chairperson established a Plan Commission and appointed seven residents to the Commission. The Commission was, among other things, charged with updating the Land Use Plan and following the process necessary to have it accepted as a Comprehensive Plan.