Middle Georgia RDC | Planning News

Planning Department

The Middle Georgia MGRC provides a multitude of planning-related services to its member local governments. Examples include regional and local land use planning, solid waste management planning, transportation planning, and historic preservation.

The MGRC also offers the following technical assistance services to its member governments:

Assistance in implementing comprehensive plan and Short-Term Work Program goals and objectives (examples include neighborhood or small area development plans, downtown improvement plans, transportation corridor plans, greenway plans, bicycle/pedestrian plans, etc);
Natural resource protection planning, to include preparation of Environ mental Criteria Ordinances, Source Water Assessment Plans, and Source Water Protection Plans;
Preparing and/or updating Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plans and other emergency response or community preparedness plans;
Developing and/or updating local Zoning and Land Use Regulations;
Creating community design guidelines;
Assistance with instituting Quality Growth Initiatives; and
Arranging and hosting training workshops for local officials.

MGRC staff actively participates in several professional planning organizations to remain current on the latest trends and developments in the field. This helps ensure the timely delivery of best practices to member governments.

Community Planning

In FY 2008, MGRC staff assisted five counties and eight cities in updating their local comprehensive plans. This action also included a review and update of each community's Short-Term Work Program (STWP) and Service Delivery Strategy (SDS).

The MGRC staff also accomplished an annual update to the Middle Georgia Regional Plan Work Program. The Regional Plan is used to coordinate the activities of the MGRC, local governments, public agencies, and other interested parties in the region in furtherance of mutually agreed upon regional goals and objectives. Plan implementation measures undertaken by the MGRC in FY 2008 included conducting reviews of 13 Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs) for multi-use projects in Middle Georgia and reviews of projects required of the State Intergovernmental Review Process.

Other community planning activities undertaken by MGRC staff included the preparation of Redevelopment Plans, a Corridor Management Study, a National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) grant application, and development of several local ordinances. MGRC staff also served as facilitators at the Annual Jones County People Looking Ahead Now (PLAN) Retreat as well as sponsoring and hosting a Quality Growth Workshop that focused on implementing quality growth principles through the use of conservation subdivisions and options for decentralized wastewater treatment systems.

The MGRC assisted Wilkinson County and the cities of Allentown, Danville, Gordon, Irwinton, Ivey, McIntyre, and Toomsboro with their successful application to the Department of Community Affairs for the Signature Community Program. This two-year program of targeted technical assistance from state agencies focused on economic development and is designed to assist the County and the cities with their efforts to take comprehensive planning to the next level. In FY 2009, the MGRC will continue to work with these communities on the implementation of their Signature Community Initiatives.

Transportation Planning

In the area of transportation planning, MGRC staff completed an update to the Socio-Economic Database for the Warner Robins Area Transportation Study (WRATS) as well as provided technical assistance and expertise to the Macon Area Transportation Study (MATS) Technical Coordinating and Policy Committees.

In partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), through an annual Planning Services Contract, RDC staff prepared Rural Transit Development Plans for Monroe and Putnam Counties,Pedestrian Facility/Sidewalk Infrastructure Improvement Plans for the Cities of Forsyth and Hawkinsville, and a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Plan for Riley Elementary School in the City of Macon. In addition, MGRC personnel served on the Advisory Committee for the Tri-County (Monroe, Jones, and Butts) Multi-Modal Transportation Study; completed several Section 106 Historic Preservation Reviews; monitored eight Transportation Enhancement projects within the region; assisted communities in the development of Scenic By-Way designation applications and corridor management plan guidelines; prepared Biennial Reviews for the Historic Piedmont and the Ocmulgee-Piedmont Scenic Byways; accomplished quarterly updates to the Regional Bicycle/Pedestrian website (www.middlegeorgiabikeped.org), and assisted Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning staff in the development of the Bibb County Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan.

The MGRC also serves as the primary contractor for the Department of Human Resources (DHR) Coordinated Transportation System. The MGRC is responsible for administering the transportation of consumers for the Division of Aging Services; Division of Family and Children Services; Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases; Division of Public Health; the Georgia Department of Labor's Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program and participants of the "GoodWorks" program and any other passengers in DHR Region 6 deemed eligible by the DHR Regional Transportation Office.

Environmental Planning

In FY 2008, the MGRC contracted with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division to perform a scope of services under the Clean Water Act, Section 604(b). Specifically, Planning Department staff prepared Status Reports for 26 local Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plans pertaining to impacted stream segments in the Middle Georgia region.

MGRC staff also prepared Solid Waste Management Plans for four counties and their six respective municipalities, in addition to providing on-going technical assistance to the Middle Georgia Clean Cities Coalition and the Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition.

Historic Preservation

In FY 2008, the MGRC assisted and supported many local historic preservation commissions, Better Hometowns, and Main Streets; provided assistance, guidance, and training to the Middle Georgia Historic Preservation Advisory Committee; assisted in the completion of a Georgia Heritage Grant application for restoration of the Crawford County Courthouse; and prepared a National Register Nomination for the downtown and industrial/railroad sections of the City of Fort Valley.

In addition, an MGRC staff member serves on the A.L. Miller High School Steering Committee. This group, working closely with the Bibb County Board of Education, is dedicated to finding a viable use for the historic A.L. Miller High School that will also serve as a catalyst for the revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood.

Important Documents

Regional Plan

REGIONAL PLAN UPDATE UNDERWAY

Think you know what's best for Middle Georgia? Well maybe you do! We'd like to hear what you think.

The Middle Georgia Regional Commission has begun work on updating the Middle Georgia Regional Plan. This important document lays out a road map for the region's future and includes both a comprehensive assessment of the region as well as a detailed implementation strategy. The Regional Assessment component is an objective evaluation and analysis of data and information about the region that is intended to provide a basis for the identification of regional issues and opportunities.

The most important part of the plan is the Regional Agenda. The Regional Commission has just recently initiated work on this component. The Regional Agenda includes the region's vision for the future, key issues and opportunities to be addressed during the planning period, and an implementation program for achieving the vision and addressing the identified issues and opportunities.

Of critical importance during the development of the Regional Agenda is the active involvement of regional stakeholders. The input of a diverse spectrum of stakeholders is needed to ensure that the completed Regional Plan reflects the full range of regional values and desires.

So who's a stakeholder? Well, if you live or work in the Middle Georgia region, then you're a stakeholder and we'd like your input. Please take just a few moments to fill out our Regional Issues and Opportunities Survey and help chart the future course of Middle Georgia.

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plans

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plans

Multi-jurisdictional Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plans are available for review by clicking on the links below. These recently updated Plans have been approved by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and have been locally adopted by each participating jurisdiction. Each Plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and each identifies specific implementation activities local governments will undertake over the course of the planning period to make their communities more disaster resistant.

Houston County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan

Jones County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan

Monroe County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan

Pulaski County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan