Ware County begins five-year comprehensive plan update, regional planner outlines schedule

Marcus McConoco of the Southern Georgia Regional Commission told the Ware County Board of Commissioners Aug. 11 that the county is starting its statutorily required five-year comprehensive plan update and outlined the public process.

McConoco said the plan, a joint document between the City of Waycross and Ware County, contains nine sections and must be updated every five years under state law. He said the process will include two public hearings and three stakeholder meetings, and that the second public hearing will be held at the conclusion of the plan’s preparation.

"This public hearing is to announce the beginning process of the Comprehensive Plan," McConoco said, adding that he would coordinate with county administrative staff and commissioners to select stakeholders for the meetings. He noted that when he reviewed the existing plan "quite a bit has been accomplished in the work program" and that the state Department of Community Affairs typically expects attainable goals.

The board did not take action on the plan at the hearing; McConoco’s description established the timeline and outreach steps the county will follow as it prepares draft updates for future review and a final public hearing.

The county’s next procedural step will be stakeholder meetings and at least one additional public hearing later in the update cycle, after staff and the regional commission develop draft recommendations.