Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 110 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS › Chapter 110-12 - MINIMUM STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES › Subject 110-12-1 - STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING LOCAL PLANNING REQUIREMENTS › Rule 110-12-1-.03 - Plan Elements

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
This chapter provides guidance for completing each element of
				  the comprehensive plan. Communities should refer to section
				  110-12-1-.02(1) of
				  these rules or the Department's recertification schedule to determine which
				  plan elements are required for their jurisdiction. For any of these plan
				  elements, it is certainly acceptable and encouraged to draw from a previously
				  prepared plan that addresses the guidance below into the comprehensive plan in
				  lieu of preparing a new plan element. Each community is also encouraged to add
				  optional elements to their comprehensive plan to address specific local needs
				  (refer to the list of optional plan elements in the Supplemental Planning
				  Recommendations for suggestions).
(1)
Community Goals
. (Required for all local governments, updates at
				local discretion.) The purpose of the Community Goals element is to articulate
				a long-term strategy for creating the set of conditions judged, by the
				community, to be best suited to maximizing the collective wellbeing of its
				residents. The Community Goals element details the overarching concepts which
				should guide local day-to-day decision-making for five, ten, even twenty years
				into the future. As such, the Community Goals shall be developed through a very
				public process of involving community leaders and stakeholders. The Community
				Goals are intended to generate local pride and enthusiasm about the future of
				the community, thereby leading citizens and leadership to act to ensure that
				the plan is implemented. The result must be an easy-to-use document readily
				referenced by community leaders as they work toward achieving this desired
				future of the community. Regular update of the Community Goals is not required,
				although communities are encouraged to amend the goals whenever appropriate.
The Community Goals must include at least one or a
				  combination of any of the four components listed below:
(a)
General Vision Statement.
Include a general statement that paints a picture of what the community desires
				to become, providing a complete description of the development patterns to be
				encouraged within the jurisdiction.
(b)
List of Community Goals.
Include a listing of the goals the community seeks to achieve. Review the
				suggested community goals in the Supplemental Planning Recommendations for
				suggestions.
(c)
Community
				Policies
. Include any policies (such as,"New development will be
				encouraged to locate on in fill sites closer to town, whenever possible.") the
				local government selects to provide ongoing guidance and direction to local
				government officials for making decisions consistent with achieving the
				Community Goals. Refer to suggested policies listed in the Supplemental
				Planning Recommendations for suggestions.
(d)
Character Areas and Defining
				Narrative.
This option lays out more specific goals for the future of
				the community by community sub-areas, districts, or neighborhoods, and may be
				prepared using the guidance provided for the Land Use Element at
				110-12-1-.03(6)(a).