Commission approves transmission of 2045 unincorporated comprehensive plan draft to state reviewers

Fulton County commissioners voted Feb. 19 to transmit a draft update of the county's 2045 comprehensive plan for the remaining unincorporated area to the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for review.

Planning staff explained the update covers the small unincorporated area near Hartsfield'Jackson Atlanta International Airport and remains primarily industrial in character. The county hired land-use consultant Goodwin Mills Cawood (listed in transcript as Goodwin Mills Kaywood) to prepare the document for roughly $35,000 over a seven-month process, staff said. Staff emphasized the county is not adopting the plan today; commissioners were asked only to authorize submitting the draft to ARC and DCA for their required review.

Planning staff said the update references transportation, housing and economic-development plans prepared by partner agencies and described public outreach, including a steering committee, an in-person public hearing in September and an owner survey. The draft includes a community work plan and short-term actions; staff told the board they expect to receive review comments and to return with the final plan for adoption in April.

Action: Commissioner Khadija Abdul Rahman moved to authorize transmission of the draft plan to ARC and DCA; Commissioner Bridget Thorne seconded. The motion carried 6-0.

Why it matters: State acceptance of an updated comprehensive plan enables jurisdictions to remain eligible for certain state funding programs tied to a current plan, including some Georgia Department of Transportation and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, county staff said.

Ending: Staff said they will return with any state comments and a final plan for board adoption in April. The board's vote authorized the manager to submit the draft for state review, not to adopt the plan.