Houston County seeks input from citizens on updated comprehensive plan

HOUSTON COUNTY — Updates to the Houston County government’s comprehensive plan are in the works and need citizen participation and feedback. 

Houston County Community Planner Jacob Cox said there is currently a survey that residents can fill out. 

In Georgia, local governments are required to update the plan every five years. The latest version of the plan was adopted in Feb. 2022. 

The county uses it as a road map guiding growth and development. 

The 2026-2030 comprehensive plan is drafted by Houston County, the City of Warner Robins and the City of Centerville. 

The plan’s biggest benefits are managing growth, improving infrastructure and protecting quality of life. The plan is location-specific, as the county may want more commercial infrastructure in one area and more green space in another. 

Cox said the comprehensive plan guides the county and each city’s planning and zoning departments as they weigh the needs of their citizens.

“We all live in Houston County, and the folks in Centerville and Warner Robins want to see things specific to them,” he said. 

Citizen input, like completing the survey, is one way to have a successful comprehensive plan. 

“It’s just good to get feedback from residents to help the local government staff to have that as a guide while they do their jobs,” he said. 

Cox hopes citizens can shape what they want to see in the county going forward.

“Through feedback at Commissioner’s [meetings], council meetings and through the comprehensive plan, that’s how we hear from residents,” he said. 

With Houston County growing rapidly, Cox said it may look a lot different in five years. According to the Houston County Development Authority, Houston County is the 14th largest in the state and has grown by 22% in the last 14 years. 

The comprehensive plan can allow citizens to look ahead and give input on what they like to see in the cities and county. 

The county is hopeful for a fully updated 2026-2030 plan by early winter 2027. 

To access the survey, the county has made a QR code that will be accessible to scan on the county’s website and Facebook page. 

The Middle Georgia Regional Commission assists in putting the plan together and is present at various community events throughout the year, giving residents another way to give feedback on the plan. 

“Feedback is important, and this is your chance to give elected officials in Houston County, Warner Robins and Centerville residential feedback,” he said. “We can only be the best that we can when we all participate and get our input.” 

Anyone living in the county, Centerville, or Warner Robins can take the survey. It can be found here:  www.surveymonkey.com/r/Houston_Joint_Comprehensive_Plan_Survey?fbclid=IwY2