The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) will host a series of public input events and survey opportunities throughout April as part of the Planning Department’s continued efforts to update Athens-Clarke County’s Future Land Use Map. This is the third series of public input opportunities since the fall of 2023 on the development of the updated map.   

A series of 10 public drop-in meetings will take place at locations around the community between April 4-30. At these events, staff and Future Land Use Steering Committee members will be present to talk about the map, review proposals, answer questions, and assist residents with filling out the survey. Staff will also set up an informational table during April at several community events and public locations. A list of events and drop-in meeting flyers are available below or at www.accgov.com/compplan.

A survey is also available online at www.accgov.com/compplan through April 30 for residents to share feedback on the map and proposals at any time. 

Following April’s public events and input, Joe Minicozzi of the Urban3 consulting agency will present an analysis of Athens-Clarke County’s land use patterns and cost of service provision to the community on May 8. 

“Public input is crucial for creating a robust plan that reflects the values of our community while properly balancing the realities of our present conditions with expectations for our shared future,” said Planning Department Director Bruce Lonnee. “We hope as many residents as possible will take part in this community engagement process.”    

In the fall of 2023, 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. Based on community input received during the first stage, the resulting Growth Concept Plan map and guiding principles were accepted by the Mayor and Commission in January 2024 to provide a broad overview of how areas could grow – or not – over the next 20 years. 

The second step in the Comprehensive Plan process took place in the spring and summer of 2024 and involved looking at individual properties to create a Future Land Use Map based on the guiding principles and the Growth Concept Plan map. The Future Land Use Map is a policy guide that provides general direction for the density, character, and location of land uses based on a shared vision for the future. 

The Future Land Use Steering Committee, a group of 25 appointed community members, has reviewed the map and proposed some changes to the map that will be available for review at the April events. 

Additional public input opportunities on the Future Land Use Map will take place later this year when the process moves to the Planning Commission and then the Mayor and Commission for approval of the final map. 

The map and other policy decisions about land use will help rewrite zoning codes, guide public infrastructure decisions, and update the state-required Comprehensive Plan. 

For more information and to sign up for notifications about the process, visit the Comprehensive Plan webpage at www.accgov.com/compplan or call the ACCGov Planning Department at 706-613-3515. 

List of public meetings: 

• Friday, April 4 at Athentic Brewing (108 Park Ave.) – 5:30-7:00 PM (flyer)

• Saturday, April 5 at Fire Station #3 in Five Points (1198 S. Milledge Ave.) – 10:00 AM-12:00 PM (flyer)

• Monday, April 7 at New Faith Tabernacle Church (198 Peter St.) – 5:30-7:00 PM (flyer)

• Thursday, April 10 at Lyndon House Arts Center (211 Hoyt St.) – 5:30-7:00 PM (flyer)

• Monday, April 14 at East Athens Baptist Church (4325 Lexington Rd.) – 5:30-7:00 PM (flyer)

• Wednesday, April 16 at Hilsman Middle School (870 Gaines School Rd.) – 5:30-7:00 PM (flyer - English | Spanish)

• Thursday, April 17 at Athens-Clarke County Extension (275 Cleveland Rd.) – 5:30-7:00 PM (flyer)

• Monday, April 21 at Chapelwood Methodist Church (100 Janice Dr.) – 5:30-7:00 PM (flyer)

• Wednesday, April 23 at Fowler Drive Elementary School (400 Fowler Dr.) – 5:30-7:00 PM (flyer - English | Spanish)

• Wednesday, April 30 at Athens-Clarke County Library (2025 Baxter St.) - 5:30-8:00 PM (flyer)