BALDWIN, Ga. — The Baldwin City Council on Tuesday night hosted its fifth public meeting seeking input from residents on the city’s upcoming 2025 comprehensive plan.
The plan is a long-term, locally adopted document that guides community growth and development, addressing land use, economic development, transportation and other factors. Required by state statute and approved by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), it serves as a framework for decision-making and must be updated at least every five years, with a full update every 10 years.
Joe Rothwell, a regional planner with the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission who is assisting with the plan, said public involvement is critical.
“Having the public here and being able to assist us with your comments to the plan is important,” Rothwell said. “We wouldn’t be able to draft this living document for the city to utilize without your feedback.”
While no residents spoke during the meeting, city leaders said they were encouraged by the participation so far.
“In my eight years in Baldwin, we’ve never had the amount of participation that we’ve had this year,” Mayor Pro Tem Alice Venters said. “So, I’m really thankful.”
Venters noted that 63 surveys have been completed to date. Residents have until Sept. 12 to participate.
Mayor Stephanie Almango also urged attendees to make their voices heard.
“Take the survey,” Almango said. “It’s important that everyone take the survey. We want to hear what you want in Baldwin as well. I encourage you to tell your neighbors to take this survey that will inform our responses in writing this plan.”
Surveys are available online in English and Spanish: Baldwin 2025 Survey, Baldwin 2025 Encuesta en Español.
The final public hearing for Baldwin’s 2025 comprehensive plan will be held Sept. 9.
WATCH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PRESENTATION
