First Fr. Co. Public Forum on Comprehensive Plan Set for Tuesday

Input on the future of Franklin County is needed.

The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GMRC) is assisting Franklin County and the cities of Carnesville, Canon, Franklin Springs, Lavonia, and Royston with the update of their joint Comprehensive Plan.

The first public forum to gather input on the plan will be tomorrow evening, March 19 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Franklin County Justice Center in Carnesville.

The Comprehensive Plan is a state-required document that helps shape and coordinate local work programs for the county and cities.

These planning processes are designed to ensure that major projects and policies for the community are developed with public input, ensuring a level of coordination between local and state-level interests.

This process will include multiple opportunities for public input, beginning with the March 19 public forum.

Initial meetings will walk those attending through the basics of the document, the planning process, and how the comprehensive plan is used to help guide community policies and programs.

Subsequent meetings will review the needs and goals of each community and what the local governments can do in preparation for the future.

In addition, there are also brief online surveys asking people to give their thoughts on select issues and priorities for each community.

The surveys will be accessible from April 1 through May 31 and will be open to anyone with a vested interest in the area.

Links to the surveys will be posted on each government’s website and will be posted around the area.

More meeting dates and times will be announced throughout the summer. For any questions about the document or the process, contact Adam Hazell Hazell@ gmrc.ga.gov.