Forsyth County adopts Forward 2045 comprehensive plan after public hearing

Forsyth County commissioners on Aug. 28 unanimously adopted Forward 2045, a high-level comprehensive plan intended to guide growth, land use and related policy through 2045.

The plan, presented to the board by Planning Director Chris Murphy and Assistant Planning Director Amy Crum, sets five vision themes—attainable housing and stable neighborhoods; strong economic opportunities; connected and accessible spaces; vibrant character and identity; and a sustainable, healthy environment—and three guiding principles: equity, livability and resiliency. Crum described the document as a “guide” rather than a regulatory code and said implementation will occur through later area plans, text amendments and other actions.

The plan’s supporters, including residents and business leaders who spoke during the public hearing, praised the outreach process and the document’s balance. “The plan’s five themes and three guiding principles will promote the economic strength and environmental health in our city and county,” said Carol Hoover, a resident who urged adoption. Calvin McRae, who identified his address as 525 Vine Street, said the plan “hits all the things that we need” including housing and economic development. Several speakers noted the planning staff’s outreach: Crum said the process included an online survey of more than 2,900 participants, over 4,000 written comments, 16 community events and 20 public input meetings.

Opponents in the hearing, led by the Winston-Salem Neighborhood Alliance, urged the board to delay adoption and return the draft to the planning board for additional debate. George Bridal, speaking for the Neighborhood Alliance, said the plan “plays lip service to the visions” and criticized the process as insufficiently deliberative, asserting that the document lacked concrete targets for housing and stormwater resilience and that the plan effectively encourages changes to single-family zoning without meaningful public debate.

Commissioners discussed those concerns before the vote. Murphy and Crum said the plan is intentionally high level and that many suggestions raised by the Neighborhood Alliance would be addressed through the implementation steps that follow adoption—area plans, Unified Development Ordinance text amendments and topic plans—each of which will include separate public processes. Crum also noted the plan’s findings that Forsyth County is roughly 25% built out, ranks fourth in population among North Carolina counties, and faces competing pressures for preservation, housing and economic development.

Vice Chair Wisenhunt moved approval; Commissioner Wilson seconded. The board voted unanimously to adopt Forward 2045.

The board packet notes the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Planning Board previously adopted the plan on Sept. 12 (date as stated in the staff presentation) and the Winston-Salem City Council adopted the plan on Nov. 18 (date as stated in the staff presentation). Crum said the plan and its website will remain a resource for outreach as implementation begins.

Implementation items identified in the plan include updating area plans, pursuing targeted infrastructure extension where appropriate, and refining recommendations through UDO text amendments. Crum emphasized the plan’s flexibility, saying staff intentionally omitted fixed long-term timelines because staffing, funding and technical conditions can change.

The board’s adoption moves Forward 2045 into the implementation phase; the planning department will notify interested parties on its contact list and through the plan website about subsequent steps such as area plans and text amendments.