Now is the Time to Make a Plan
In Georgia, the Department of Community Affairs requires local governments using state funding to create Comprehensive Plans. Each plan represents a community’s vision for its future and lays out a strategy for attaining its goals. The process is a community’s opportunity to prepare for land use issues, such as affordable housing, greenspace conservation, and aging infrastructure.
Through the process, community members share their vision for the future, create a plan for achieving that vision, and determine necessary strategies. Successful plans provide guidance for their community in the years ahead. Creating a high-quality plan requires ample public engagement, regional partnerships, identification of attainable funding, budgeting with specificity, and appropriate zoning amendments.
How Will a Comprehensive Plan Help Bryan County?
While a comprehensive plan is not binding by law, it should be used to direct county staff and commissions in their decisions on granting rezonings and variances. The plan sets out what type of development the community believes should occur in specific areas. By following the goals and guidelines set forth in a well-developed comprehensive plan, local governments can approach contentious land use issues with an informed perspective, and the Commissioners can avoid making decisions that are incompatible with the community’s vision for its future.
Participating in the comprehensive planning process doesn’t require any prior knowledge of planning, zoning, or land use–it simply relies on your willingness to communicate with the planning staff about your observations and what you would like to see. The planning staff creates a comprehensive vision for Bryan County’s future based on the input communicated by the public.
Without your input, the plan could prioritize development in the wrong places, including meaningful spaces that should be preserved, areas with inadequate infrastructure to serve a larger population, or near resources requiring protection. The comprehensive planning process is also an opportunity to point out areas where the county can improve by updating infrastructure, implementing or expanding community services, or addressing natural resource concerns.
Join the Planning Process Now
To address the rapid development facing Bryan County, One Hundred Miles joined the County, City of Richmond Hill, and City of Pembroke to promote an update to the Comprehensive Plan. We hosted two public input session alongside the local government partners that took place on August 23rd and 25th. Planning staff collected community feedback that will be used to help create a new Bryan County Comprehensive Plan.
We will share an update once more information is available.
Learn more about planning and zoning via the following resources:
Smart Growth • Mixed-use Zoning • Land Use Strategies • Greenspace Preservation
Bryan County in the News
Savannah Morning News | 3/9/23
The Georgia Virtue | 8/15/22
WTOC 11 | 8/09/22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution | 7/28/22
“Protecting a rapidly-developing community like Bryan County begins with a collaborative and inclusive comprehensive planning process.”
Contact Jen for more information about OHM’s work to protect our northern coast from irresponsible development—and how you can make your voice heard.