The final public meeting for the Fayetteville 20-year Comprehensive Plan was held March 27. As is usual for the city, the public meeting was well-attended as steering committee members presented the findings and asked the audience, “Did we get it right?”
“This is another step in the process to make sure citizens have input in the comprehensive plan,” said Mayor Ed Johnson at the outset of the meeting. “We are listening to what you’re saying because, ultimately, this is your plan and it is the foundation for development for the (coming) years.”
Acting Director of Planning and Zoning Jahnee Prince echoed that thought, telling residents the plan is now 85 percent complete, and noting the previous town hall meetings that were also heavily attended and the nine meetings of the 22-person steering committee. A survey was conducted along the way to secure residents’ input. That survey received more than 550 responses, she said.
Prince gave an overview of the comprehensive plan process and reviewed the phases of public input into the process. It was at a public meeting on Nov. 1 that the community was asked, “What do you want?” That meeting was followed by one on Nov. 29 asking, “Where do you want it?”
“Tonight we want to know, did we get it right?” Prince said, noting that the document is essentially a 20-year plan for growth, development and redevelopment which will serve as a policy guide for the city.
To answer that question, residents at the end of the meeting turned in a three-question survey soliciting input on issues they felt were not previously addressed, suggestions on additional ideas for the comprehensive plan and concerns that should be brought to the steering committee.
“It’s so important,” Prince said of the need for additional feedback. “We’re listening to you. This is your plan.”
The draft plan is available on the city’s website at http://fayetteville-ga.gov/vertical/sites/%7B7C2ED344-BB55-4347-B057-121AA147A84D%7D/uploads/2017-03-27_CompPlanDraft.pdf
The City Council will soon forward the plan to the Ga. Department of Community Affairs for review and, after the review, adopt the later this year.
The Citizen next week will provide a breakdown of the Fayetteville 2017-2037 Comprehensive Plan.
