Comprehensive Planning: What Will Our City Look Like in 2030?

The culmination of data collection work begun in September by a team of consultants hired to help the city create a comprehensive land use plan was heard by the Johns Creek City Council at a Special Called Meeting, Monday, Jan. 14.

For the first time, city leaders and residents were able to look at data about Johns Creek – as a city, not as a portion of a county.

“Data didn’t exist at the city level; it had to be created,” said Michele Alexander, of the consulting firm Pond & Company.

And the revelations were very educational.

Our total citizen population, thought to be about 60,000, is actually 70,050, representing a 16 percent growth since the 2000 Census. There are 23,013 households, with an average family size of 3.04. The city is expected to swell to 94,304 by 2030.

Johns Creek’s median income is $150,592, placing it well above Atlanta area statistics.

“You are a very wealthy community,” said Alexander. She said there had been a 43 percent increase in income level since 2000. Johns Creek’s income level is 224 percent above the Atlanta metropolitan area median income of $67,100.

City residents are also well educated. Forty-four percent have Bachelor’s degrees and 22 percent hold advanced level degrees.

But money may not be everything. Johns Creek’s 200 acres of city parklands are below the national standards, which suggest there should be 5 acres per 1,000 people, which translates to 350 acres, not 200.

And, like anyone didn’t already know, city traffic leaves much to be desired.

“I’m surprised to see any green on this map,” said Mayor Mike Bodker, referring to the map color code of roadways considered adequate.

A significant data finding is that “through trips,” people driving through the city to reach another destination, contribute significantly to peak hour congestion.

Consultants began offering up certain remedies for transportation woes, including:

* Development of travel time strategies for transit service along the State Bridge Road and Medlock Bridge Road corridors to encourage transit riders.
* Incorporation of walkable communities and transit-oriented development near mixed-use activity centers.
* Examination of potential local circulation routes between walkable activity centers.
* A transit connection to the proposed commuter rail station in Duluth, supporting those commuting to/from Atlanta.
* Examining the applicability of Bus Rapid Transit or other commuter transit service in Johns Creek.
* Identification of park and ride facilities.

The charge of the consultants was to present initial demographic data to allow the city to send its first round of planning maps to the state for approval. Alexander said state laws require a structured fashion for creating long-range plans.

Three components of the planning process are dictated by the state.

This initial phase, called the Community Assessment, arms the city and the state with baseline information to assist with the creation of the next phase, called the Community Participation Program, and then on to the develop of the Community Agenda.

Two community groups, appointed by the Mayor, worked in tandem with consultants to gather community information.

These citizen groups helped consultants organize sections of the city into “Character Areas” – specific geographical areas that are identifiable by common characteristics. The Newtown Community on the southwest side of the city and Shakerag to the east are two examples of the thirteen character areas.

Certain trends were also examined by consultants, such as how land use is currently configured, and a dropping off in growth once the city is fully developed.

Johns Creek’s development is significantly weighted toward residential use.

While 2000 Census data drove the initial data findings, consultants used an array of tools and sources to harness the city profile.

After a brief public hearing, the City Council voted to transmit the demographic to the state. The city anticipates an opinion from the state in approximately 60 days.

All data and maps are available on the city’s website, www.johnscreekga.gov. Upcoming planning meetings can also be found on the city’s site.

Ed. Note: The article references committees that support the structure and process of planning process. It should be noted that a nine-member Citizen Advisory Committee(CAC) is the citizen voting body. The CAC is supported by two additional non-voting committees: Transportation and Green Space. The chairmen of these two committees hold seats on the CAC and therefore a vote.