What is the principal mechanism for implementing a master plan?

Zoning is the principal mechanism for implementing a master plan because it provides the legal framework that dictates how land within a municipality can be used. By categorizing different areas for specific types of development—such as residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural—zoning helps ensure that the goals and visions outlined in a master plan are executed in a structured and organized manner.

Through zoning regulations, local governments can enforce land use policies that align with community objectives, such as promoting sustainable development, protecting environmental resources, and ensuring public welfare. These regulations create a predictable environment for developers and landowners, thereby facilitating the growth and development envisioned in the master plan.

Other methods, like referendums, public elections, and property management, play supporting roles in the broader planning process. However, they do not serve the same primary function as zoning does, which directly governs land use and development practices in line with the established master plan.