Elbert County planning staff reports 357 responses to comprehensive‑plan survey; survey open through Sept. 5

Elbert County planning staff told the Planning Commission the county’s comprehensive‑plan community survey has received 357 responses to date and remains open through Labor Day (Sept. 5). Staff urged commissioners to help share the survey and outlined outreach methods including library paper copies, a county web button linking to elbertcountycomprehensiveplan.com and a QR code on printed flyers.

Kelsey Lanham, Elbert County planner, said the survey is one of several engagement tools intended to build an inclusive record for the plan’s next stages. “The community survey is a really important one here on the front end,” Lanham said. “There’s a QR code … paper copies at the library and in the county buildings.” She told commissioners the consultants assisting the plan can track where responses originate to help ensure geographically representative input across the county.

Staff said the survey results will inform the comprehensive‑plan steering committee and that the Board of County Commissioners will ratify steering‑committee appointments at an upcoming meeting. Two planning commissioners are on the steering committee and the staff said those appointments will be ratified by the BOCC at its Aug. 13 meeting.

Why it matters: The community survey will shape the county’s comprehensive plan, which in turn will inform future land‑use decisions and the future land‑use map commissioners asked for during the meeting.

What’s next: Survey closes Sept. 5; staff will track geographic representation of responses and provide updates through the steering committee liaison process.