Port Wentworth approves draft comprehensive plan for submission to DCA, citing grant eligibility

Port Wentworth City Council voted unanimously April 17 to approve a draft Comprehensive Plan and send it to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for certification. City Manager Steve Davis said the certification is necessary for the city to be eligible for state and federal grant funding.

City Manager Steve Davis told council that the draft follows DCA guidelines and that the city had previously lost eligibility when it did not have a certified plan. He said the architect for the project (identified in the record only as "Ms. Lauren") was present to answer questions and that, if approved by council, the draft would be transmitted to DCA immediately.

Councilman Mark Stephens moved to approve the submission; Mayor Pro-Tem Gabrielle Nelson seconded and the motion passed with all recorded councilmembers in favor. The council record lists the affirmative votes as Gabrielle Nelson, Thomas Barbee, ArtLise Alston-Cone, Mark Stephens, Rufus Bright and Shawn Randerwala.

The certification process is a prerequisite for many grant programs; Davis said the city had been denied eligibility in the past because of an uncertified plan and had since recertified a previous plan to regain eligibility. The council did not specify a timeline for DCA review in the meeting record. The city manager and council members said the action is intended to preserve the city’s ability to apply for state and federal funds that support infrastructure and community projects.

The measure passed unanimously; next steps are for staff to transmit the draft to DCA and await the agency's review and certification.