The Long Range Planning Division's primary purpose is to support the County's Strategic Priority by developing and maintaining sustainable neighborhoods and communities. The Division is responsible for the development of policy recommendations and services to guide the county's growth, while preserving the quality of life for its citizens and stakeholders. These primary duties and functions include:
- The preparation and update of DeKalb County's Comprehensive Plan
- Preparation of the Annual Development Report
- Coordination of Transportation Planning and improvements to accommodate growth and population shifts
- The preparation and project management of neighborhood plans
- Review of Development of Regional Impact (DRI) project that impact the County
- Provide demographic research and special project mapping
DeKalb County Studies[/caption] Small Area Studies. Long Range Planning also provides research data and mapping services for special projects and small area studies. This allows staff to accommodate the nuanced needs of small communities that may not be addressed by efforts that have a regional focus. Long Range Planning customizes efforts for these communities by assessing land use, housing, commercial and industrial permit activity, and economic development policies of the community. Two effective tools that staff employs to address these assessments are:»Livable Centers Initiatives (LCI's) »Compatible Use Overlay Districts
Livable Centers Initiatives (LCI's) is a program administered by the Atlanta Regional Commission that awards grants on a competitive basis to local governments and nonprofit organizations to prepare and implement plans for the enhancement of existing centers and corridors consistent with regional development policies, and also provides transportation infrastructure funding for projects identified in the LCI plans. (Atlanta Regional Commission website)
DeKalb County Overlay Districts[/caption] Compatible Use Overlay Districts are a supplemental zoning designation to the existing or underlying zoning classification of parcels contained within its boundary. Typically these districts override the underlying standards as it pertains to:»Uses (prohibition and/or principal) »Design (infill & Re-development) »Signage »Lighting (Transportation)
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DeKalb County Functional Class Map 2014[/caption] Transportation. Long Range Planning's transportation responsibilities include coordination with various state, federal, regional, and local agencies (Public Works Transportation Division) to prioritize the transportation needs of DeKalb County. The transportation planning areas addressed by our staff include:
The regional transportation planning process
Transit coordination
Evaluation of thoroughfares
Congestion mitigation
Transportation and funding policies and procedures
Service Delivery Strategy (SDS). Most importantly, Long Range Planning coordinates inter- and intra- governmentally in an effort to reduce the duplication of efforts and services throughout ALL of DeKalb County. Long Range Planning staff works with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to maintain the state-mandated Service Delivery Strategy. This involves accounting for any amendments to agreements between the County and cities within its boundary.
To view a copy of the most recent SDS, click the link below:
DeKalb County 2014 Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) SDS Matrix (2014)
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Comprehensive Plan 2035 Update[/caption] Comprehensive Plan 2035 Update. The Long Range Division in conjunction with the Atlanta Regional Commission are currently updating the current Comprehensive Plan. This effort is intended to update existing Land Use, Transportation, and Housing policies by reviewing Community Goals, Needs and Opportunities, and developing a new Community Work Program that will create critical action items for the county to realize this vision for the year 2035. The link to the project site is below: http://dekalbcp.weebly.com
Mapping. Click the link below to access mapping tools. GIS Tools
1300 Commerce Drive Decatur, GA 30030
