Regional planners kick off Lowndes County comprehensive-plan update, outline 15-month schedule

James Horton of the Southern Georgia Regional Commission opened a formal public hearing to begin Lowndes County’s comprehensive-plan update, saying the process is driven by the Georgia Planning Act of 1989 and will take roughly 15 months.

Horton, the planning director, told commissioners the update will include goals, a land-use section, policies and a work program, and will rely on a stakeholder list that includes elected and appointed officials, business leaders, healthcare and higher-education partners, the Air Force base and interested citizens. He said the Regional Commission plans a series of workshops starting October 2025 and running monthly through March 2026, with a draft due in June 2026, a transmittal public hearing on July 14, 2026, and adoption targeted for Oct. 13, 2026.

The county’s adopted comprehensive plan is necessary under state law to maintain “Qualified Local Government” status, Horton said, which preserves eligibility for state programs that fund local projects including CDBG, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority loans and other development assistance. He also noted the county’s service-delivery strategy expires on Oct. 31, 2026, and will be addressed in parallel with the plan.

Commissioners asked about meeting locations and times; Horton said workshops could be held across the county and at varying times to accommodate working residents. He and staff said they will share the current plan with commissioners and invite them to serve on a steering committee. Horton closed by encouraging members of the public to discuss questions with Regional Commission staff after the meeting.

The hearing served as the legal kickoff; no formal transmittal or adoption votes were taken at this meeting. The next procedural milestones include stakeholder development in September and DCA review after transmittal in mid-2026.