Georgia Department of Community Affairs

Georgia Department of Community Affairs ~~Community Assessment In-Depth~~

Community Assessment “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Community Assessment: Overview • Professional document, objectively assessing the community • Prepared prior to extensive political or community participation • Findings provided as executive summary to citizens, elected officials

Community Assessment: Process Examine Data & Statistics Examine Existing Development Patterns Conduct Quality Community Objectives Analysis Identify Trends and Patterns Identify Issues & Opportunities Recommend Character Areas

Data Requirements and Data Elements

Population Element Inventory Items • Total population • Households • Age distribution • Racial composition • Educational attainment • Income

EconomicBase, Sectors, Wages Major Firms, Labor Force Employment & Unemployment Commuting Patterns Protection of Water Resources Economic Development Element New!

Housing Element - Basic Planning Level • Types of housing units • Age & Condition of Housing • Owner & renter units • Cost of Housing

Housing Element - Intermediate & Advanced • Cost burdened and severely cost burdened households • (owner and renter) • Housing and Community Characteristics • Special needs housing

Areas Requiring Special Attention • Natural or cultural resources likely to be impacted by development • Areas of rapid development • Areas where development may outpace availability of community facilities • Areas in need of redevelopment or aesthetic improvement • Large abandoned structures or sites • Significant infill development opportunities • Areas of disinvestment, pockets of poverty

Character Areas: Example

Mapping Requirements and Map Elements • Natural & Cultural Resources • Community Facilities & Services • Land Use • All require mapping of locations for the community’s • natural and cultural resources • major community facilities and service areas • land uses, existing and future

Mapping Requirements • Basic Planning Level: • Existing Land Use Map • Future Land Use Map • Intermediate/Advanced: Each element must contain a map or map series depicting: • current and future conditions • reflecting plan goals, policies and strategies • to coordinate land use planning with projected growth, community facilities and services and housing, and protection of natural and cultural resources.

Land Use Element • Inventory existing land use patterns and trends and guide future patterns of growth • Develop goals, policies and strategies for future land use that... • support economic, housing, community service and natural and cultural goals … the other elements of the plan

Existing Land Use Inventory • Textual and Map form • Describes: • amount • type • intensity/net density • current acreage devoted to different land uses

Land Use Categories • Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Public & Institutional • Transportation/Communication/Utilities • Park/Recreation/Conservation • Agriculture • Forestry • Undeveloped ---------------------------------------- • New: Mixed Use

Future Land Use Needs • How much land is needed to accommodate future growth of community? • Residential - based on Population • Commercial/Industrial - based on Economic • Other (recreation, transportation) - based on level of service standards or other requirements that have been applied • Environmentally sensitive - based on ecological principles, physical determinants

Future Land Use Assessment Intermediate & Advanced • Alternative land use patterns considered by the community • Transitional areas • Areas for redevelopment • Rural, agricultural and forest lands • Local development policies to promote alternative development patterns New!

Intergovernmental Coordination Element New! • Coordination of comprehensive plan with: • Adjacent local governments • School boards • Local authorities, independent districts • Service Delivery Strategy • Governor’s Greenspace Program • Coastal Management Program • Water Resources Planning Districts and Programs

Service Delivery Strategy Coordination • Must be reviewed and revised as needed when undertaking major update of Comprehensive Plan • How to revise an existing strategy • Must be submitted simultaneously with Required Major Comp Plan Update

Community Assessment: Process Examine Data & Statistics Examine Existing Development Patterns Conduct Quality Community Objectives Analysis Identify Trends and Patterns Identify Issues & Opportunities Recommend Character Areas

Comprehensive Plan Elements • Population • Economic Development • Housing • Natural & Cultural Resources • Community Facilities & Services • Land Use • Intergovernmental Coordination • Transportation* (Adv/Intermediate) Data Elements Map Elements New!

Natural & Cultural Resources Element - Basic thru Advanced • Part V Protected Resources • Wetlands • Protected Mountains • Protected River Corridors • Groundwater Recharge • Water supply watersheds • Coastal Resources • Flood Plains, Soils, Steep Slopes • Prime Agricultural and Forest Land • Plant and Animal Habitats • Scenic Views and Sites • Cultural, Rural, Historic & Archeological Resources

Transportation, Water/Sewer and Solid Waste Public Buildings, Public Safety & Public Health Facilities Cultural & Recreational Facilities (Parks, schools, libraries, museums, etc.) Community Facilities & Services Basic Planning Level

Community Facility and Service Assessment • Are facilities and services adequate for: • Current needs of the community? • Future needs of the community, based on projected growth?

Examine Data & Statistics Examine Existing Development Patterns Conduct Quality Community Objectives Analysis Identify Trends and Patterns Identify Issues & Opportunities Recommend Character Areas Community Assessment: Process Assemble the Community Assessment Report

Community Assessment: Components **Optional Introduction: Explanation of Purpose, Overview of State Planning Requirements, Overview of the Planning Process, and a Community Profile/Description • List of Potential Issues and Opportunities • Analysis of Existing Development Patterns • Analysis of Consistency with Quality Community Objectives • Analysis of Supporting Data + Data Appendix: A compilation of statistical data describing your community

Community Assessment: Components **Optional Introduction: Explanation of Purpose, Overview of State Planning Requirements, Overview of the Planning Process, and a Community Profile/Description • List of Potential Issues and Opportunities • Analysis of Existing Development Patterns • Existing Land Use Map • Areas Requiring Special Attention • Recommended Character Areas • Analysis of Consistency with Quality Community Objectives • Analysis of Supporting Data + Data Appendix: A compilation of statistical data describing your community

Community Assessment: Components **Optional Introduction: Explanation of Purpose, Overview of State Planning Requirements, Overview of the Planning Process, and a Community Profile/Description • List of Potential Issues and Opportunities • Analysis of Existing Development Patterns • Existing Land Use Map • Areas Requiring Special Attention • Recommended Character Areas • Analysis of Consistency with Quality Community Objectives • Analysis of Supporting Data • + Data Appendix: A compilation of statistical data describing your community

Community Assessment: Components **Optional Introduction: Explanation of Purpose, Overview of State Planning Requirements, Overview of the Planning Process, and a Community Profile/Description • List of Potential Issues and Opportunities • Analysis of Existing Development Patterns • Existing Land Use Map • Areas Requiring Special Attention • Recommended Character Areas • Analysis of Consistency with Quality Community Objectives • Analysis of Supporting Data + Data Appendix: A compilation of statistical data describing your community

Community Assessment: Components **Optional Introduction: Explanation of Purpose, Overview of State Planning Requirements, Overview of the Planning Process, and a Community Profile/Description • List of Potential Issues and Opportunities • Analysis of Existing Development Patterns • Existing Land Use Map • Areas Requiring Special Attention • Recommended Character Areas • Analysis of Consistency with Quality Community Objectives • Analysis of Supporting Data + Data Appendix: A compilation of all the statistical data collected during the assessment process

Have council approve a resolution to transmit to the RDC to begin the review process. • Explain procedure

Georgia Department of Community Affairs