Athens Reporter

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Planning Director Brad Griffin has announced his retirement, effective June 7, 2024. ACCGov Manager Blaine Williams has appointed Assistant Director Bruce Lonnee as interim director while a national search is conducted to find a permanent replacement.

Griffin has served as the Planning Department Director for 24 years. A native of Warner Robins, Georgia, he interned in the Planning Department while attending the University of Georgia for graduate school. After graduation, he initially returned to Warner Robins to work for a landscape design installation company before joining the Planning Department in 1992.

"Brad will be sorely missed by staff, elected officials, and the community for his role in the growth and planning of this community since the 1990s," said Williams. "With his knowledge of the code and consistent pragmatism, Brad has guided others to help implement the community values of the code to influence the look and feel of this community for generations to come. He has truly left Athens-Clarke County in better condition than when he first started here."

During his tenure, Griffin was directly involved in managing over 15,000 development permits and contributed to positive community growth that increased the tax base by 250% and added 40,000 new residents. In his role, he collaborated with 58 Planning Commission members, 106 Planning staff members, 41 Commissioners, and six Mayors.

The mission of the Planning Department is to effectively manage community change in both short-term and long-term contexts concerning land use, transportation, historic preservation, urban design, and overall development to create a productive and beneficial environment for all residents of Athens-Clarke County. For more information about their work visit www.accgov.com/planning.