Atlanta — Jun 01, 2021
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) today announced that Douglas County and the City of Locust Grove will receive technical support from community partners through ARC’s Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP).
Here’s more on each project:
The Georgia Conservancy, with support from ARC, will work with Douglas County to help maximize the potential of the historic Lithia Springs community, in the northeast corner of Douglas County. It will do so by equipping residents with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve the changes they want to see in their community. First, the nonprofit will work with the County to develop a primer of best practices and regional case studies to illustrate redevelopment recommendations made in the County’s small area implementation plan for Lithia Springs. Second, it will produce a training for citizens, planning officials, and the Board of Commissioners, so that they may become even better community advocates. Curriculum for this training will be based on ARC’s Community Planning Academy and the Georgia Conservancy’s Good Urbanism 101 program.
The Georgia Conservancy, with support from ARC and in partnership with the Incremental Development Alliance, will work with the City of Locust Grove to conduct an audit of its zoning code to address initial, high-level concerns. This is a preliminary step in the City’s plan to complete a full update of its zoning ordinance, focusing on housing, downtown development, and density as Locust Grove continues to grow, both in population and in diversity. The zoning ordinance is a key document used by local staff and elected officials to translate planning goals into regulations to ensure the realization of the community’s vision for itself. This review will provide the opportunity to rewrite an outdated zoning code, while identifying new standards that could improve social equity and resilience.
Earlier this month, ARC announced eight local communities to whom it will provide a combination of staffing resources and grants to support a wide range of community development initiatives that aim to improve quality of life for residents — while helping those communities build resiliency and improve social equity.
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 73 other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention, and planning resources on key regional issues.
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Contact Name: Kate Sweeney
Contact Phone: 404-314-7863
Contact Email: ksweeney@atlantaregional.org
ARC’s Strategic Partners are committed to fostering collaborative regional approaches that improve quality of life in metro Atlanta. Their support elevates ARC leadership programs, research and events throughout the year. Learn more.
