Cusseta–Chattahoochee County releases draft comprehensive plan update, schedules final hearing

The Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County has released a draft update of its comprehensive plan outlining goals for land use, housing, economic development and infrastructure and scheduled public review steps through December 2025.

The document, prepared with assistance from the River Valley Regional Commission, frames a vision of preserving the county’s rural character while leveraging proximity to Fort Benning and Columbus to attract residential, commercial and light industrial development. It separates county data into two census tracts to distinguish the Non‑Fort Benning Area (the Unified Government boundaries) from parts of the county that include Fort Benning.

The update identifies several near‑term priorities: improving water distribution and resolving system distribution problems, establishing sewer service in the Broad Street area to support growth, pursuing grant funding for sidewalk and road repaving, and expanding broadband service to unserved locations. The plan notes that water distribution issues could constrain growth in six to ten years without phased system upgrades and that an agreement exists to connect to Fort Benning/Columbus systems if funding is secured.

Economic and housing goals emphasize workforce development, retention and expansion of existing businesses, promotion of infill housing and programs to clean up dilapidated housing. The plan flags a high share of manufactured homes in the Non‑Fort Benning Area and notes the tax implications of homes taxed as personal property.

The document includes a community work program for 2026–2031 with cost estimates and funding sources for key projects, for example a proposed $1,000,000 sewer update in the Broad Street area and $1,000,000 for multi‑use trails, with funding listed from the Unified Government, CDBG and other grants.

Public engagement steps accompanying the update included public work sessions and two required public hearings; the plan lists June 24, 2025 as both an initial and final public hearing date in its project schedule and provides contact information for River Valley Regional Commission staff to receive comments. The plan will be submitted to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for review and adoption steps are scheduled later in 2025.

The plan cites sources including U.S. Census data, the Georgia Governor’s Office population projections and state statutes that govern local comprehensive planning.