Georgia County Government - March 2008 - (Page 23)

Preservation Goals Crucial The plan especially targets urgent challenges – the preservation of natural resources, including the barrier islands, marshlands, forested areas, wildlife, the aquifer and greenspace in general, are paramount. These goals, aside from being intrinsically valuable, provide many ancillary benefits: improving public health, promoting tourism, ensuring future water supplies, and creating a general sense of well being. Infrastructure is another concern. The plan delineates the need for more east-west transportation corridors, for better public transit and for the continued expansion of the ports. “Quality growth” (a.k.a., “smart growth”) is emphasized as a possible solution to many issues, as it is clear that the current development pattern of “sprawl” spurs traffic congestion, restricts affordable housing, harms the environment, compromises providing parks and greenspace, and uses up wastefully excessive amounts of land. Stakeholders from the coastal region were involved as much as possible in developing the Coastal Comprehensive Plan, since loca l k nowledge was considered critica l. Stakeholders have included local governments, school boa rds, development aut hor it ies, proper t y ow ners, commercial fishers and the military, as well as residents and businesses in the region. The role of local governments in creating the plan was considered especially important from the start, as their knowledge of local trends and development projects “in the pipeline” would be instrumental to the comprehensive plan’s success. Promoting coordination between local governments is also a hallmark of the Comprehensive Coastal Plan, having utilized local governments’ input into the planning process. The plan has much to say concerning the types of growth to be encouraged or discouraged in the coastal region, within the framework of policies and regulations of local governments or by the standard practices of developers, specific to each area within the region. The plan lays out “best practices” for development, as well as “future development concept maps.” According to DCA, the most important sections include Vision and Implementation. The Vision enumerates subareas and areas within the region requiring special attention, and recommends development strategies appropriate for each. These are specific regarding land use, and more general and more specific, as warranted, with regard to the forms and patterns of development. The section on Implementation specifies activities and steps needed to realize particular goa ls, suggests g u ida nce for state invest ment, a nd recommends consistency provisions for local governments and state agencies. For additional information about the plan, please contact Jim Frederick (404-679-3105) or Annaka Woodruff (706-5429967) at DCA’s Office of Planning and Quality Growth. ■ One Team. Infinite Solutions. Stantec provides a complete range of design and consulting services to effectively meet our clients’ speciﬁc project needs. From initial planning stages to design and construction management, we offer our clients a complete and creative process. Providing professional services in: AD-CA-WSA-2007FEB09-P1V1 • Environmental Management • Environmental Infrastructure • Surveys/Geomatics In Macon, call (478) 474-6100 In Atlanta, call (678) 432-3810 • Transportation • Urban Land Engineering • Planning & Landscape Architecture Ofﬁces throughout North America and the Caribbean 319728_Stantec.indd 1 MARCH 20083/26/07 10:46:28 AM www.accg.org 23 http://www.stantec.com http://www.accg.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - March 2008

Georgia County Government - March 2008 Contents President's Message County Matters Guest Editorial: Our Future Depends On Statesmanship Bryan County in Step With State Coastal Plan Solid Waste Management in Georgia Hazardous Waste Management in Georgia Extension News: Georgians Growing Older, Fatter County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - March 2008

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