Sustainability  

Upon incorporation in 2006, the City of Johns Creek initiated steps to achieve a sustainable community through creation and adoption of a Solid Waste Management Plan, Stormwater Management Program and Transportation Master Plan.

Solid Waste Management

Management of solid waste is an inherent part of a community's sustainability. The City takes an integrated approach to this task, beginning with its Solid Waste Management Plan, a long-range "blueprint" for collection, disposal and recycling of solid waste in order to reduce the amount going into landfills and other disposal facilities.

Required by the Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act and adopted in December 2008, the plan:

• Assures adequate solid waste collection/disposal capacity for at least 10 years.

• Promotes reduction of the per capita rate of municipal solid waste disposed in solid waste facilities. (The city's per capita disposal rate is projected to decrease from 6.38 pounds per day in 2008 to 5.74 pounds per day by 2018, a 10 percent decrease).

• Identifies solid waste handling facilities as to size and type, and land areas unsuitable for these facilities based on environmental and land use factors.

Stormwater Management

Precipitation that runs off over the land surface directly into streams, rivers, and lakes is called stormwater runoff. Everything that happens – development, pollution, erosion, flooding – in the land area that drains to these bodies of water affects our water quality and our community's overall health.

To ensure that water quality in the city is maintained and enhanced, and flooding and pollution minimized, the City of Johns Creek has developed a coordinated Stormwater Management Program.

The program includes:

• watershed planning,
• development regulations,
• erosion & sediment control,
• floodplain management,
• public education and outreach,
• public participation/involvement,
• illicit discharge detection and elimination, and
• pollution prevention/good housekeeping.

Transportation

Improving the mobility of citizens and upgrading road infrastructure are important goals of the city and essential to its sustainability efforts.

Guided by input from citizens and business owners, the Transportation Master Plan (adopted November 2008) is designed to prepare the city for current and future demands on local and regional transportation and strives to:

• Facilitate safe/efficient movement of traffic along key corridors to minimize congestion.
• Apply innovative approaches/technologies to improve mobility, safety and environmental quality.
• Enhance capacity along key corridors, while preserving existing character of two-lane residential roads.
• Connect the sidewalk/multi-use trail network for safe pedestrian and bicycle travel.

In fall 2009, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the city began developing a comprehensive Intelligent Traffic System master plan which includes:

• Installation of an Intelligent Traffic System (cameras, software and fiber optic cable) connected wirelessly to a Traffic Control Center, from which workers can observe conditions and adjust traffic signal timing as necessary to move vehicles more efficiently.

• Installation of measurement devices for emissions and timing (Ga. 141/Medlock Bridge).

• Retrofitting 26 traffic signals with energy-saving light emitting diodes, under a partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The first phase of the plan focuses on the Ga. 141/Medlock Bridge Road corridor.