# Presentation: 365491

## REGIONAL PLANNING FOR GEORGIA’S COAST

***REGIONAL ******PLANNING ******FOR ******GEORGIA’S COAST***

## A short history...

-  From Governor’s executive order
-  34-member advisory committee
-  Began January 2006
-  To be completed January 2008
-  DCA staff plus consultants
-  Lott+Barber Architects, Savannah
-  Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc.
-  GA Conservancy
-  Southface
-  Coastal Ga RDC
-  Coastal Resources Division, Georgia DNR

## Focuses on incentives and rewards
Establishes achievement thresholds
Stresses BMPs
Integrates other planning efforts
Coordinates more than regulates
Creates Coastal Regional Commission	from the CGRDC

- Establishes achievement thresholds
- Stresses BMPs
- Integrates other planning efforts
- Coordinates more than regulates
- Creates Coastal Regional Commission	from the CGRDC

- Plan features...

## Plan Components

-  Regional Assessment
-  Community Participation Plan
-  Regional Agenda
-  Vision
-  Guiding Principles
-  Performance Standards
-  Implementation Strategy
-  Evaluation and Monitoring

**Notes:**
Assessment:
Local Plans
Regional Plans
Issues and Opportunities
Future development scenarios
Evaluation of current policies
Data analysis/assumptions

Community particip plan- Stakeholder Involvement
	we’ve held 2 rounds of meetings; 3rd following completion of draft

Agenda

## Vision

- The vision of Coastal Georgia is to be a unique and cohesive region based upon innovation and excellence in all we do to preserve, nurture, enhance and develop our abundant human, natural, historic, cultural           and economic resources.

## Regional Issues

- Infrastructure
- Water and wastewater
- Stormwater
- Transportation
- Economic Development
- Business and Industry
- Tourism
- Intrinsic Resources
- Natural
- Historic and Cultural
- Regional Growth Management

## Two Tiers of Achievement

-  Excellence Standards
-  Minimum, plus
-  Smart Growth Guidelines
-  Green Development Guidelines
-  Low-Impact development practices
-  Minimum Standards
-  Consistent enforcement of land use   	regulations
-  Infill development incentives
-  Septic maintenance requirements

## Why Aim for Excellence?

-  Recognized as a Regional Steward
-  Eligible for Regional Stewards 	grant (proposed)
-  Eligible for Sustainable Coast 	Initiative grant (proposed)
-  Expedited reviews/permitting
-  Eligibility for state funds and permits

## Coastal Regional Commission

- Monitors implementation of plan
- Facilitates critical activities
- Heightened DRI review role
- Monitors achievement thresholds
- Tracks activities of other agencies
- Expands plan to cover entire region
- Provides outreach and TA

## Region remains attractive while preserving natural and cultural resources
Public health benefits of better development patterns
Protection of local resources and open space
Better climate for business due to predictability of development regulations
Cost savings to developers due to predictability and consistency in development regulations
Increased ability to attract new residents and visitors
Implementation of best practices for development
Greater opportunity for wise investment in infrastructure
More efficient use of land resulting in net cost savings

- Public health benefits of better development patterns
- Protection of local resources and open space
- Better climate for business due to predictability of development regulations
- Cost savings to developers due to predictability and consistency in development regulations
- Increased ability to attract new residents and visitors
- Implementation of best practices for development
- Greater opportunity for wise investment in infrastructure
- More efficient use of land resulting in net cost savings

- Anticipated Benefits

## The Alternatives

- Sprawling development eating up resources
- Incompatible adjacent land uses
- Loss of sense of place
- Deteriorated quality of coastal living
- Irreparable damage to natural, cultural, and historic resources
- Disconnects between development patterns, neighbors, communities, ....

## Where we are now...

- 2 rounds of public/stakeholder meetings held
- 1 round of to go (Oct-Dec 07)
- Assessment of local government land use regulations completed
- Draft plan almost completed
- Regional Assessment
- Participation Plan
- Regional Agenda
- Coastal Regional Commission duties and responsibilities being clarified

## Next, and final, steps...

- Presentation to the Governor
- Polishing
- 3rd round of Stakeholder meetings
- Final meeting of CCPAC
- Marketing
- Celebrating!

## Project Team

- Plus consultants:
**Lott+Barber Architects-**  Savannah
**Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc**.-
- Savannah Office
**Coastal GA RDC**
**The Georgia Conservancy **
**Coastal Division**

**Jim Frederick**
- (404) 679-3105
- _[jfrederi@dca.state.ga.us](mailto:jfrederi@dca.state.ga.us)_
**Adriane Wood**
- (478) 752-1172
- _[awood@dca.state.ga.us](mailto:awood@dca.state.ga.us)_
**Teresa Concannon**
- (912) 489-4977
- _[tconcann@dca.state.ga.us](mailto:tconcann@dca.state.ga.us)_
**Elizabeth Smith**
- (404) 679-0666
- _[esmith@dca.state.ga.us](mailto:esmith@dca.state.ga.us)_
**Art Gibert**
- (404) 679-5242
- _[agibert@dca.state.ga.us](mailto:agibert@dca.state.ga.us)_