This is an unprecedented opportunity for us and our community. Envision Athens is about coming together to think about our future.

 

In general, planning like this represents good stewardship. Communities—like businesses—cannot reach their potential without a deliberate and thoughtful blueprint. The community has many significant assets and the potential to evolve dynamically in the future. This potential has a much better chance to be realized with an intentional and thoughtful planning process. One of the special aspects of this planning process is the opportunity for it to influence the Unified Government’s comprehensive plan update as well which will happen in the next year. The Envision Athens process will establish the larger community-based vision which will help to inform the development of the comprehensive plan.

This process is wide open, we want to hear what you think is important. This plan will be driven by what we hear from you.

The Process

Preparation for the planning process started in October of 2016 and will last approximately one year.

What’s Next?

As the Envision process has helped produce the Action Agenda, and many of these recommendations will also be integrated into the Community’s Comprehensive Plan. The diagram below illustrates how the unique and common elements of each plan.

Why should you participate?

This is about you and your community.

In general, planning represents good stewardship. The community has many significant assets and the potential to be an even better place in the future.

This is a unique opportunity.

For the first time the public and private entities in the community have come together to think about and plan for the future. This planning process will result in a community-wide common vision for the future. For a full list of the participating entities please see the FAQs

This needs your insight.

We need your ideas, your input and your feedback to ensure that this community-wide vision represents the authentic voice of the entire community.

This will ensure our future is not left to chance.

Communities—like businesses—cannot reach their potential without a deliberate and thoughtful blueprint. This potential has a much better chance to be realized with an intentional and thoughtful planning process.

Who is involved?

Steering Committee.

Process and outreach

A 38-member citizen steering committee is helping to guide the public process and the plan’s recommendations. The group is representative of the county’s many diverse interests. The planning consulting team will facilitate the steering committee’s work, convene public workshops, conduct technical work and draft the plan.

Public.

Input and feedback

Widespread public involvement is vital to Envision Athens’ success. A number of in-person workshops and online tools will offer a variety of ways for the community to give input throughout the 12-month process.

Stakeholders.

Targeted input

Various stakeholder groups will be convened to inform specific aspects of the plan. These groups include business leaders, civic leagues, real estate professionals and developers, education professionals, students, young professionals, and industry representatives among others.

Consultants.

Process leadership, expertise

Planning NEXT is leading the consultant team and is responsible for the overall public engagement process and technical planning. Ninigret Partners will provide expertise related to economic development and market analysis.

Answers to Common Questions