WESTFIELD — This summer, residents of the village and town of Westfield have an opportunity that comes around only once a decade: To help create a comprehensive plan that guides land use, development and budget priorities in their communities.

A 15-minute community questionnaire is now open at surveymonkey.com/r/WestfieldPlan. The Town and Village are encouraging residents, business and property owners and visitors to share their thoughts.

The results from the questionnaire will help determine what the plan’s focus areas and priorities will include. Completing it is an easy way for those who live and work in Westfield to do something that has a positive, concrete impact on the future.

The Town and Village, over the next 18 months, will be working together on a joint Implementable Comprehensive Plan that will include a vision, targeted strategies and stepwise action plans for both local governments.

Collaborating on this planning effort offers multiple benefits: Cost savings, competitive advantage for grants and strengthening connections and capacity to address shared problems. Both the Town and Village have appointed residents to a Steering Committee that provides leadership for the planning process, with facilitation from consultant Pashek+MTR.

To ensure that the plan is relevant and broadly supported, the process requires a solid footing in meaningful public outreach and engagement. The initial stage of the project involves collecting perspectives from community members to define the key issues around which the plan will be built.

Once the priority issues are clear, the committee and consultants’ team will drill down for solutions, workshopping preferred future scenarios and action plans. The final plan will be designed as a practical workbook, a living document with thoroughly vetted strategies that account for real-world challenges.

In addition to the online version of the questionnaire, paper copies are available at the Village and Town offices.

Other ways to get involved will include pop-up activities at local events and gatherings and public meetings that will be advertised at future project milestones. Residents can stay tuned for updates at westfieldny.com as the project unfolds.