Athens Reporter

The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) is actively seeking input from the community on the desired growth and future land use planning for the area. This initiative is part of the Planning Department's ongoing efforts to update the Future Land Use Plan for Athens-Clarke County. The public input events and online survey will be available for participation from March 21 through the end of April 2024.

As stated by the Planning Department, "Last fall, Planning staff started the multi-year process of updating the community’s Future Land Use Plan, which will help make decisions about how the community will grow and provide services over the next 20 years."

The series of public meetings scheduled between March 21 and April 18 will provide residents with the opportunity to engage with staff, learn more about the planning process, ask questions, and participate in the survey. Additionally, drop-in opportunities will be available on weekdays from March 25 to April 26 at the Dougherty Street Government Building Auditorium for direct interactions with planners and survey completion.

Explaining the importance of community involvement, the Planning Department emphasized, "These maps and other policy decisions about land use will help rewrite zoning codes, guide public infrastructure decisions, and update the state-required Comprehensive Plan...due in 2028."

Residents are encouraged to visit www.accgov.com/compplan to access the survey and gather more information about the Comprehensive Plan process. For further inquiries and notifications about the ongoing planning efforts, individuals can contact 706-613-3515.

The scheduled public meetings and drop-in opportunities aim to incorporate diverse perspectives and insights from the community to shape the Future Land Use Map and guide future developments in Athens-Clarke County.