For Immediate Release:

Contact: Bill Doughty, APR, 678-512-3274

Comp Plan process moves to next phase focusing on community input
Series of workshops scheduled for Comprehensive, Transportation and Green plans

JOHNS CREEK, Georgia—February 4, 2008—City of Johns Creek citizens, business owners and service providers have the opportunity to work together with city staff in a series of public workshops over the next several months to prepare land use and transportation planning recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.

Planning efforts to generate a Transportation Master Plan, a Green Plan, and a Comprehensive Land Use Plan will happen simultaneously, giving citizens a chance to consider City priorities for a 20-year time horizon. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the City Charter require that the respective plans be completed and adopted by November 2008.

"This is a landmark project that will shape the City's future for years to come," Mayor Mike Bodker said last week during his first-ever State of the City address. "Over the next several months, you will have numerous opportunities to tell us what you want your community to look like. I urge you to study what is unfolding and make your voice heard."

Transportation workshops begin Tuesday, February 19. The Transportation Master Plan addresses needs for transit, sidewalks and bicycle travel, as well as the need for roadway and intersection capacity. It also addresses the Comprehensive Plan's transportation element requirements, including transportation issues and opportunities, supportive policies, and specific projects to be implemented in the first five years with project and implementation recommendations through 2030.

The first workshop for the Comprehensive Plan (which links all the master plans and produces a land-use policy document) will take place Tuesday, February 26. Participants at these workshops may also provide input into the City's Green Plan, which addresses future needs for parks, major recreation facilities, recreational trails, and land conservation. Participants have an opportunity to complete a Green Plan preference survey, share opinions, and ask questions of the planning team.

The City undertakes these efforts as a joint project, so that transportation planning links with land use and green space decisions in the future. For planning purposes, consultants have divided the city into three sub-areas (see corresponding map) and scheduled meetings to specifically address each one.

This is the second phase of the Comprehensive Plan development process. The Community Assessment – an inventory of existing conditions and resources in Johns Creek – along with a Community Participation Plan that outlines how the City will solicit citizen input in the process, were presented and approved by Council January 14 and subsequently submitted to DCA and the Atlanta Regional Commission for their required review.

Marie Garrett, who served on the Governor's Commission and who also served as Johns Creek's interim City Manager will provide technical directive and supervision of the planning team. David Tedder, a land use consultant, mediator and lawyer with similar tenure in land use planning and government experience will coordinate the overall planning effort. The City has hired Carter/Burgess for the Transportation Master Plan, Georgia Tech for the Green Plan, and Pond & Company for the Comprehensive Plan.

Please see the City Web site www.JohnsCreekGA.gov/compplan.html for draft documents and a schedule of upcoming activities. Save the dates listed below to lend your voice to the process. All meetings are held in the Council Chambers at Johns Creek City Hall, 12000 Findley Road, third floor and start at 7 pm.

Comments related to the Comprehensive, Transportation and Green plans may also be submitted via e-mail to . Please put Comprehensive Plan in the subject line.

Comprehensive Plan Issues/Opportunities, Visioning, and Development Strategies:
Sub-area 1 Land Use and Green Plan	February 26
Sub-area 2 Land Use and Green Plan	March 11
Sub-area 3 Land Use and Green Plan	March 25
Transportation Master Plan
Sub-area 1	February 19
Sub-area 2	March 6
Sub-area 3	March 18
Gather additional public input	August 26
Final report presentation	September 9
Joint Comprehensive/Green/Transportation Master Plan Open House	April 24

About the City of Johns Creek
Located in Metro-Atlanta, Johns Creek is the 10th largest city in Georgia. It was incorporated December 1, 2006, following a voter referendum July 18, 2006. For more information, visit the City Web site at www.JohnsCreekGA.gov.

For more information, visit the City of Johns Creek Web site at www.JohnsCreekGA.gov.

Press Contact:
Bill Doughty, APR
Director of Communications
City of Johns Creek
P 678-512-3274

The City of Johns Creek believes all press releases were accurate as of their respective dates, but makes no representation as to accuracy on any other date and assumes no responsibility for updating information contained in any press release.