Taylor, mississippi
village plan
THE context
The Town of Taylor, Mississippi is a distinctive rural village located just south of Oxford and the University of Mississippi. Over the past decade, Taylor has experienced meaningful growth and increasing development pressure as the Oxford–Lafayette County region expands. At the same time, the town has cultivated a unique identity rooted in its arts community, walkable village center, and agrarian landscape. Taylor’s previous comprehensive plan, adopted more than twenty years ago, no longer reflects these evolving conditions. The Town engaged Orion Planning + Design to prepare a new comprehensive plan that will guide growth while preserving Taylor’s character as an arts-infused Southern village.
THE process
Orion Planning + Design is leading a comprehensive planning process designed to align Taylor’s vision, policies, and development tools. The work begins with a rigorous discovery phase examining demographic trends, economic conditions, land use patterns, environmental assets, and regional growth pressures. Particular attention is given to the influence of Oxford’s expanding economy and housing market.
Public engagement is central to the process. OPD is facilitating a community survey, town hall meetings, and a design workshop to engage residents, artists, business owners, and landowners in shaping the town’s long-term vision. Scenario planning and growth modeling help the community evaluate alternative development patterns and identify strategies that balance thoughtful growth with preservation of Taylor’s rural village identity.
The planning effort also includes a review of the town’s development regulations to ensure they support the desired vision and provide clear, predictable standards for future development.
THE impact
The Taylor Comprehensive Plan will establish a clear roadmap for the next 10–20 years of growth and community development. The plan will define future development patterns, mobility priorities, environmental stewardship strategies, and community investment opportunities.
Equally important, the plan will include actionable implementation recommendations—policy guidance, strategic investments, and development code updates—designed to translate the community’s vision into everyday development decisions. The result will be a practical, implementable framework that enables Taylor to manage growth while preserving the distinctive character that defines the town.