DeKalb County’s Comprehensive Plan will be built on a foundation of public engagement.

About the DeKalb County Comprehensive Plan

Coming 2025…

The DeKalb County Comprehensive Plan is a strategic planning effort involving county leadership, departments, non-profits, local businesses, emergency services, utility providers, and the broader community. It will shape future investment and development in DeKalb for years to come. As development interest in the community grows, it is crucial that the comprehensive plan reflects the goals and interests of current residents and business owners and serves as a tool to guide the future DeKalb desires.

This plan will cover land use, utilities, transportation, economic development, government capacity, and other topics vital to the ongoing success of the community. Various research and analysis of existing conditions will lay the foundation for a set of planning goals and action strategies to be used by leadership and staff when making land use and policy decisions. Additionally, the DeKalb County Comprehensive Plan is intended to be a document supported and used by the entire community, including residents, businesses, and community organizations.

Throughout the project, residents, workers, and visitors of DeKalb will be asked to provide input to assist in the development of the plan. This input not only helps local leaders in identifying critical challenges for the future but also helps build community support necessary for the successful implementation of plan recommendations. Public workshops, open houses, online surveys, and stakeholder meetings are all part of the plan’s engagement and outreach process.

How will we reach the community?

1

In-person Engagement

Community planning relies on the input from residents, business owners, elected officials, and others to build a unified vision for the future of the community. Over the next year, we will be holding multiple in-person engagement opportunities open to everyone living and working in or around DeKalb County. A Big Ideas open house will then be held to present preliminary findings and confirm overall goals.

2

Online Survey

We understand not everyone will be able to attend in-person engagement events. An online survey will be available for the community to provide input at their convenience. This survey will be release early spring 2025.

3

Committees & Stakeholders

In addition to broader engagement events, the process will be guided by the project steering committee. Additional targeted stakeholder outreach will occur to engage leaders and professionals related to plan topics such as utilities, housing, education, arts and culture, preservation, recreation, community services, transportation, economic development,
and more.