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LaGrange has begun the process of updating the city’s 20-year Comprehensive Plan. The update is required every five years by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

City Planner Mark Kostial said they need to update the existing criteria because there are specific things that DCA requires. The plan is due to be submitted to DCA by October, he said.

The new plan will include an updated demographic summary, along with an analysis of the city’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, needs and opportunities. 

“We’ve got to set community goals. We’ve got to review our Character Area Designation while updating our Land Use map. We’ve got to incorporate a Broadband Analysis section and get that updated. And then finally, there’s a Community Work Program [section], which identifies what the city’s goals are and the community’s goals for the next five years and what our vision is,” Kostial said.

Kostial said the first step for updating the plan is to have the first public hearing, which was advertised and held Tuesday evening. No one from the public made any comments about the plan.

The city is planning two town hall meetings. One will take place at the William J. Griggs Recreation Center and the other at the Chamber of Commerce. The dates for the town hall meetings have not been finalized. Kostial said that the city is required to hold at least one town hall meeting but decided to hold a second one.

Kostial said the staff is also working to finalize a community survey to receive direct feedback from residents. The survey will be posted on social media as well as on the city’s website.

The first implementation meeting was held on March 17. Subsequent meetings are planned for the third Monday of each month at 9 a.m. at City Hall.

Members of the Comprehensive Plan steering committee include LaGrange Assistant City Manager Bill Bulloch,  Councilman Leon Childs, Chad Cooper, LaGrange Housing Authority Director Zsa Zsa Heard, LaGrange-Troup Chamber of Commerce President Connie Hensler,  Downtown LaGrange Development Authority Director Bill Hunnicutt, Mitch Key, Maryanne Lovejoy, Deborah Moore, Habitat for Humanity Director Sandie Pike, Visit LaGrange Director Kathy Tilley, Community Development Director Alton West and Ben Yates.

After the plan is updated for submission to DCA, there will be a second public hearing.