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Public hearing opened on updated Liberty County comprehensive plan; staff to transmit draft to state for review
Summary
County planning staff held a formal public hearing on a draft updated comprehensive plan, describing updated population projections, land‑use maps and a five‑year work program that staff will transmit to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for state review.
County planning staff opened a required public hearing Thursday on an updated Liberty County comprehensive plan that will replace the 2016 joint plan adopted by the county and its cities.
The presenter said the draft is a joint plan that mirrors the county’s Unified Development Ordinance and includes updated population, household income and employment data, future land‑use maps, character areas and a five‑year work program for the county and each municipality. The presenter noted the county’s population has recently exceeded 70,000 and projected growth to roughly 82,000 over the life of the plan.
Staff described an extensive public outreach program including a stakeholder committee, 12 sub‑area meetings across the county and prior public hearings, and said hard copies had been delivered to local elected officials. The presenter asked commissioners to accept the public hearing record and transmit the draft to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for state review; DCA will return comments and staff expects to bring a final plan back to the county and cities in September for adoption.
Commissioners and members of the public asked questions about demographic data, household income, education statistics and how plan elements relate to economic development and education partnerships. One commissioner urged stronger coordination with local educators and technical colleges to improve workforce outcomes and median household income.
No final vote on adoption was taken; staff will transmit the draft to DCA following the public hearing and return in September with DCA comments and the final adoption package.
