PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE WALKER COUNTY AND THE CITIES OF CHICKAMAUGA, LAFAYETTE, LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND ROSSVILLE UPDATE OF JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Walker County and the cities of Chickamauga, LaFayette, Lookout Mountain and Rossville are beginning a five-year update of their Joint Comprehensive Plan that was previously adopted in February 2017. The plan update will be prepared according to the 2018 Minimum Planning Standards set by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Georgia Planning Act of 1989. This initial public hearing is being held to explain the process for the plan preparation and the opportunities for public participation in the development of the updated plan. The affected governments intend to appoint citizens to participate as part of a Stakeholder Committee to work with planners for the plan preparation. In addition, broad citizen participation at every meeting related to the plan preparation is desirable and recommended.

The plan document, estimated for completion in draft form by November 2021, will ultimately be submitted for review to the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Plan approval by February 28, 2022 is required to maintain Qualified Local Government (QLG) status for each local government, per the Georgia Planning Act of 1989, allowing continued eligibility for State loans, grants, or permits for another five years.

The public hearing will be held at Walker County Courthouse Annex III, 201 S. Main St., LaFayette, Georgia 30728, on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. during the Walker County Board of Commissioners meeting.