Office of Planning & Quality Growth Helping communities address issues of growth, development, and quality of life
Planning & Quality Growth DCA s planning and quality growth assistance is aimed at helping communities address issues of growth, development and quality of life through implementation of recognized best practices for planning and growth management.
Planning & Quality Growth Tools to Use for Quality Growth
Tools To Use Advisory Clinics - Panel of experts, made available at major in-state conferences for brief individual consultation and advice on local planning and growth management issues.
Tools To Use (cont.) Direct Technical Assistance Hands-on expert assistance with a broad range of planning and quality growth issues.
Tools To Use (cont.) Georgia Examples Details and contact information about local planning and growth management success stories that have already happened in-state.
Tools To Use (cont.) Model Code Relatively simple set of land use management techniques, providing viable alternatives to conventional zoning, and organized to allow communities to tailor regulations to fit local circumstances.
Tools To Use (cont.) Comprehensive Planning Working with local governments to develop plans for future development and managing their growth.
Tools To Use (cont.) Quality Growth Assessment Review of growth patterns, and planning practices to identify opportunities for improving local planning and growth management.
Tools To Use (cont.) Resource Teams On-site visits by a team of experts who help develop a comprehensive strategy for improving local planning and growth management.
Tools To Use (cont.) Planning Toolkit Practical, how-to-do-it information about a broad range of planning and growth management best practices.
Tools To Use (cont.) Community Preference Tool Useful tool for measuring citizen s preference for different types of development.
Promoting Quality Growth Since implementation of quality growth is certainly optional for Georgia s local governments, the department s overall approach to promoting quality growth implementation has included: Marketing: taking advantage of opportunities to tell local officials (and other stakeholders) about the benefits of quality growth. Information: making information about quality growth best practices (including model ordinances, how-to-do-it guides, etc.) available to local officials.
Promoting Quality Growth (cont.) Examples: spreading word about quality growth success stories within the state, and helping connect local officials seeking to implement particular best practices with their peers who already have. Assistance: providing direct technical and financial assistance to those local governments that are ready to implement quality growth best practices.
Strategic Partnerships OPQG partners with the more than 40 other organizations of the Georgia Quality Growth Partnership in developing a website, toolkit, and legislative initiatives to encourage the use of quality growth concepts throughout the state.
Environmental Concerns The Office of Planning and Quality Growth is Planning for a Sustainable Future
Planning for a Sustainable Future (cont.) DCA encourages and assists communities in realizing their vision for a sustainable future. Our local and regional planning, quality growth, and environmental management programs offer innovative solutions that can provide Georgia s communities an improved quality of life. Benefits include equitable access for all citizens, cleaner air and water, more walkable neighborhoods, and compact development patterns that make more efficient use of public infrastructure.
Planning for a Sustainable Future (cont.) The Model Code is a one-stop shop for a variety of regulations designed for communities with limited capacity to prepare and administer these types of tools. Along with traditional tools, such as subdivision regulations, the code introduces a variety of alternative and innovative approaches such as a Land Use Guidance System and Design Guidelines.
Planning for a Sustainable Future (cont.) The Board of the Department of Community Affairs adopted the Quality Community Objectives (QCOs) as a statement of the development patterns and options that will help Georgia preserve its unique cultural, natural and historic resources while looking to the future and developing to its fullest potential. All DCA programs and services are committed to supporting and balancing 15 core objectives.
Planning for a Sustainable Future (cont.) These important elements of community building include: Heritage Preservation Sense of Place Environmental Protection Growth Preparedness Appropriate Businesses Educational Opportunities Housing Choices Regional Cooperation Regional Solutions Employment Options Regional Identity Infill Development Traditional Neighborhoods Open Space Preservations Transportation Alternatives
Planning for a Sustainable Future (cont.) The Quality Growth Toolkit provides advice to local governments on tools that may be used to put quality practice at the local level. The toolkit comprises a variety of resources that are available to assist with the implementation of quality growth best practices.
Planning for a Sustainable Future (cont.) Preservation, Protection & Conservation are in our tool kit: Abandoned or Contaminated Properties Disappearing rural scenery Environmental pollution problems (water bodies, air, etc.) Inadequate protections of historic resources New development locating in areas that should not be developed such as farmland or environmentally sensitive areas Not enough greenspace or parkland Too many trees lost to new development
Planning & Quality Growth Helping communities address issues of growth, development, and quality of life
Planning & Quality Growth For more information, log on to www.dca.state.ga.us or www.georgiaplanning.com