Welcome to the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) website for Forsyth County.

LCI ADOPTION HISTORY. The Board of Commissioners adopted the LCI Plan on April 13, 2006.

Forsyth County Planning congratulates community members who participated in the creation of the plan and thanks all of those who dedicated evenings to speak at the three public hearings held to consider adopting the plan -- both those with constructive criticism and those with full support of it -- so that the Commissioners could address remaining concerns. We will maintain our outreach efforts as we move forward with implementation of the plan for the McFarland/Stoney Point area in the future.

WHAT'S NEXT: Planning, Engineering and County Administration will work together to implement elements of the plan including proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and drafts of an Overlay District for the area addressing design and ways to commit to the land-use "distribution" of lower densities in the northern part of the LCI study area and intense, mixed-use development around the McFarland area. 

LCI -- WHAT IS IT? This initiative assumes that linking land-use planning with greater transportation options makes for more "livable" communities. Better design can also help achieve walkable and livable communities. ARC awards millions of dollars in sidewalk and bike path funds to communities making progress in achieving Livable Centers -- Forsyth will pursue those monies.

Please see the documents in the download list at the bottom of this page for a map of the McFarland-Stoney Point LCI Study Area and the Final Study and Recommendations. If you have any comments or questions, please forward them to Vanessa Bernstein, LCI Project Manager at vdbernstein@forsythco.com.

PROCESS: The BOC conducted three Public Hearings on the final LCI documents: February 2, March 2, and April 13 2006. These documents were prepared after several months of study, five public meetings, and monthly Core Committee meetings.  Under the McFarland-Stoney Point LCI, a consultant team of transportation, design, land-use, and market experts conducted this study, engaging the community in the planning process via interviews and public meetings. Our consulting team was led by the engineering and architect firm, Pond & Company. The study findings will inform continued planning efforts in a targeted sub-area of the County (see the download list at the bottom of this page for the study area map).

ORGANIZATION: A Core Committee of residents, business owners and government officials oversaw the LCI study. The Core Committee met once a month. The LCI was funded by an 80% - 20% match-grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and administered through the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC).

Also see the ARC web site to learn about LCI successes around the region and explore citizen-planning resources: www.atlantaregional.com.