The Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) is requesting approval of a resolution allowing the transmittal of the draft City of Savannah Plan 2040 Comprehensive Plan to the Coastal Regional Commission (CRC) and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) as required by the Georgia Planning Act of 1989. The City must maintain a Comprehensive Plan that meets the “minimum standards” as set forth by DCA in order to achieve Qualified Local Government (QLG) status. Comprehensive Plans must be updated every five years and provide progress reports on an annual basis.

Since August 2020, the MPC staff has been working on the Comprehensive Plan. The document provides a unified, long-term vision for the City of Savannah and unincorporated Chatham County in the topics of land use, housing, economic development, transportation, natural resources and quality of life. A widespread community participation effort was used to gather public input which influenced this plan. MPC staff coordinated closely with local partners to ensure that the Comprehensive Plan reflects the vision and goals of the Savannah Forward Strategic Plan and other planning initiatives.  On May 27, 2021 and June 11, 2021, a presentation was made at a City Council public meeting, regarding the Comprehensive Plan by Melanie Wilson, the MPC’s Executive Director, and Jackie Jackson, the MPC’s Director of Advance Planning and Special Projects. On June 29, 2021, after completion of a 3-month MPC subcommittee review process, the MPC recommended approval of the draft Comprehensive Plan for submittal to the The Mayor and Aldermen for action.

Upon review of the draft Plan 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the CRC and/or DCA may have comments that will require additional updates to the draft Comprehensive Plan originally submitted. Any changes to the Plan requested by the State will trigger another series of updates by the MPC with a second request for Board acceptance and resolution permitting transmittal of the amended document.

The draft document may be accessed through this link: https://www.thempc.org/docs/lit/compplan/2021/Plan2040Draft.pdf

To speak on this item during the Live City Council Meeting, please follow the instructions included in the "Notes to Audience" section of this agenda. 

MPC is recommending approval of a resolution allowing the transmittal of the draft city of Savannah Plan 2040 Comprehensive Plan to the Coastal Regional Commission (CRC) and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).