Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Acting Manager Niki Jones has named Bruce Lonnee as Planning Director, effective immediately. Lonnee has served as Interim Planning Director since the retirement of former director Brad Griffin in June 2024. 

“Bruce not only has a wealth of experience in the planning field,” says Jones, “but he knows a great deal specifically about the Athens-Clarke County community as well. He has worked with this community through comprehensive plan, historic designation, and rezoning processes for more than two decades. I have no doubt he’ll continue to do the same excellent work moving forward in this new role.” 

Lonnee joined the ACCGov Planning Department in 1998 after working for several years with regional, county, and municipal planning agencies in Wisconsin and Georgia. He also served as Community Planner and Economic Development Director for the largest non-profit community-based organization in the City of Milwaukee. During his 25 years in the Planning Department, Lonnee has held positions as Assistant Comprehensive Planner, Senior Planner, and Assistant Director. 

“There’s challenging and impactful work to be done to guide Athens-Clarke County’s growth,” said Lonnee. “I’m excited to lead the Planning Department in facilitating these efforts while working directly with our residents, business partners, and community stakeholders.” 

Lonnee holds a bachelor’s degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, as well as a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master of Historic Preservation degree from the University of Georgia. 

Lonnee is a certified planner and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the American Planning Association. He has also served as a guest lecturer since 1999 at several colleges at the University of Georgia (UGA) and was a part-time instructor for seven years of Planning Ethics and Professional Practice at UGA’s College of Environment and Design in the Master of Urban Planning and Design program. 

The Planning Department’s mission is to effectively manage community change in both the short and the long term with regard to land use, transportation, historic preservation, urban design and overall development in order to achieve a positive environment that is productive and beneficial to all residents of Athens-Clarke County.  

For more information, visit www.accgov.com/planning.