Decatur launches public process to update its comprehensive plan; outreach to begin in March

At a public hearing on Jan. 20, the city’s planning consultant TSW formally opened Decatur’s statutorily required comprehensive plan update, outlining a condensed schedule for public engagement and a community work program focused on equity, housing, climate and transportation.

"This is a guiding document that outlines how a long term vision for land development will be implemented over time," said Allison Sinyard, the TSW representative. She described a process of focused two-day “mini-charrettes” that will tackle pairs of related elements (for example, economic development and housing) and a program of stakeholder interviews, walking tours, drop-in hours and public events.

Sinyard said the state requires the city to complete the plan by Oct. 31, 2026, so the team will work quickly: a steering-committee meeting next month, an opening-night kickoff expected March 4, spring deep dives and a draft plan for public hearings by summer and early fall adoption. The project team will launch a project website and an online survey in coming weeks.

Resident Mary Skowatzki asked whether the survey results would be published. "I would say yes. Absolutely," Sinyard replied, adding that staff would need a couple of weeks to review and interpret results before posting them.

Why it matters: Georgia requires a five-year update for local governments to maintain qualified local government status, which affects access to certain funding programs. City staff said the update will also produce a community work program with cost estimates and identified funding sources where available.

Next steps: TSW and city staff will publicly announce the project website and the survey link; the engagement schedule foresees public-facing community charrettes in spring and a second public hearing on the draft plan in August before the fall adoption process.