The Peach County Board of Commissioners is updating its comprehensive plan to guide community growth

FORT VALLEY, Ga. — The Peach County Board of Commissioners is working in partnership with the City of Fort Valley, the City of Byron, and the Middle Georgia Regional Commission (MGRC) to update its Comprehensive Plan, which will help guide the Peach County community’s growth and ensure smart, responsible developments in the county.

A Comprehensive Plan is a long-term policy document that guides growth, development, and investment, ensuring that any growth in the county is intentional and not accidental. 

Georgia law requires local governments to update this document every five years. The current version of the Joint Comprehensive Plan was adopted in February 2022. 

The process for the updated plan, which would take effect in 2027, began at the Peach County Board of Commissioners’ March 2026 board meeting, where members of the MGRC presented the updated Joint Comprehensive Plan Process.

The overall goal of the Comprehensive Plan is to serve as a useful tool to promote and maintain future growth and to improve the quality of life for all residents of Peach County. The plan will reflect community input from the citizens of Peach County. The public will be able to contribute to the planning process later in the year through town halls, community events, online surveys, and stakeholder meetings.

The plan will cover topics that include economic development, workforce and education, housing, natural and cultural resources, public facilities and utilities, public safety and health, transportation, broadband, and land use.

A Comprehensive Plan allows local governments to be considered Qualified Local Governments, which will provide opportunities for various grant opportunities and incentive programs. State-level funding decisions are being made in accordance with planning documents. 

According to documents provided online in accordance with the Board of Commissioners meeting, Peach County is planning to take a fresh look at many of its ordinances and policies related to planning and zoning.

The Peach County Board of Commissioners will provide updates when it is time for community input on how best to develop Peach County, which is slated to take place later in the year.