By Carlen Ruth Hultgren
DeKalb County has launched an effort to define and develop its 2050 Unified Plan and is seeking public input for the future of the county.
The plan will combine two long-range strategic documents into one: a Comprehensive Transportation Plan which identifies priority transportation projects and policy recommendations, and a Comprehensive Land Use Plan which establishes the framework for future growth and development. This combined plan will create a more consistent, unified strategy for the county and address arts and culture, housing, health and wellness, public safety, sustainability, retail, and annexation policies.
The planning process began in March 2021 with early visioning and an inventory of existing conditions to determine current and future needs. The next phase of planning will focus on the intersection of transportation and land use. The recommendations phase of the plan will result in proposed projects and policies to address the needs identified. Final documentation will continue through this fall, with a goal of adoption by the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners in 2022.
The county seeks to include every part of its diverse community in the planning effort which will offer a variety of ways for residents to stay involved both virtually and in-person. Additionally, the county has identified multiple stakeholder groups to provide input throughout the process.
While the virtual public meetings have already taken place, the meetings were recorded and are posted on the county’s website: dekalb2050unifiedplan.com. In these meetings, participants attended a presentation, participated in live polling, and chatted with the moderators. Following the presentation, participants had options to participate in breakout discussions focused on land use and transportation topics.
An online survey is also available for those with an interest in the future of DeKalb.
For additional information about the project, or to take the online survey, visit dekalb2050unifiedplan.com or email 2050unifiedplan@dekalbcountyga.gov.
