Greene County to launch update of land use plan
Greene County is preparing to begin work on a new comprehensive land use plan, a major long-range planning effort that will help guide future growth, zoning decisions and development policy across the county.
The April 20 Board of Commissioners agenda includes a presentation titled “New Greene County Land Use Plan” by Ashli Barefoot with Insight, the firm selected to help develop the document. County planning staff told commissioners in the agenda packet that Greene County’s current land use plan was created in 2012 and that state law requires counties to maintain a current plan in order to regulate land use.
According to the presentation materials, the updated plan will serve as a framework for future growth and a decision-making tool for land use matters, including zoning map changes and text amendments. The county’s packet says the new plan is intended to provide economic direction in the years ahead while helping strengthen agriculture and existing businesses.
The planning process outlined in the presentation includes a project kickoff, baseline review and data collection, analysis of existing conditions and opportunities, creation of a future land use framework, community engagement and an implementation strategy. Community input is expected to play a visible role through public meetings, an online survey, a project website, press releases and social media. The materials also call for stakeholder interviews and the creation of a steering committee.
Topics expected to be studied include housing, the economy, growth, infrastructure, transportation corridors, preservation and equitable services. Next steps listed in the packet include finalizing the steering committee, scheduling interviews, completing data collection and launching the project website.
Commissioners are not scheduled to vote on the plan Monday, but the presentation will mark the formal public start of a process likely to influence Greene County development decisions for years to come.
