Stone Mountain 2021 Comprehensive Plan Update

One of the fundamental responsibilities of local government is planning – a word used to describe how a community shapes and guides its future growth, development, and identity. Updating the comprehensive plan offers the community the opportunity to look beyond the execution of day-to-day services and consider where they want to be in the future, as well as what needs to be done to get there.

Check back here regularly to get up-to-date information about the City of Stone Mountain's 2021 Comprehensive Plan Update process and to participate in engagement opportunities to help shape the plan.

Draft Plan for Review

The first draft of the Comprehensive Plan Update was discussed in a public hearing at the September 21, 2021 meeting of Stone Mountain's City Council. That document and the public hearing discussion led to the development of the second draft, which will be submitted to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for state review by the end of September. The second draft is available online for review at this link. The public is encouraged to submit any comments on the draft to ChaQuias Miller-Thornton, City Manager, via email at cthornton@stonemountaincity.org.

Survey

As an initial step, we developed survey tool to gather public input on Stone Mountain's assets, challenges, and priorities for the future. The survey was open from April 22-July 6. Results are below.

What are the three (3) strongest assets in Stone Mountain currently?

If you see a response you agree with, you can upvote that response instead of replicating it.

Closed for Comments

What are the three (3) biggest challenges facing Stone Mountain currently?

If you see a response you agree with, you can upvote that response instead of replicating it.

Closed for Comments

What are three (3) words or phrases you would use to describe Stone Mountain to someone unfamiliar with the community?

If you see a response you agree with, you can upvote that response instead of replicating it.

Closed for Comments

Quality of life can be defined as the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group. How would you rate the quality of life that you experience in Stone Mountain ?

Average

52%

High

25%

Low

23%

Closed to responses | 75 Responses

What places in Stone Mountain are most important to you? (e.g., local businesses, parks, places of worship, community centers, buildings, etc.)

If you see a response you agree with, you can upvote that response instead of replicating it.

Closed for Comments

Use this map to point out the places in Stone Mountain that are most important to you. (e.g., local businesses, parks, places of worship, community centers, buildings, etc.)

Loading Map

What are the most significant natural and environmental resources in the area? (Natural and environmental resources can include bodies of water, wildlife and wildlife habitat, forests, undeveloped land, etc.)

If you see a response you agree with, you can upvote that response instead of replicating it.

Closed for Comments

How would you characterize the pace of development in Stone Mountain in recent years?

Too slow

89%

Just right

No opinion

Too fast

Closed to responses | 65 Responses

Where do you think new development should be focused or located in Stone Mountain?

If you see a response you agree with, you can upvote that response instead of replicating it.

Closed for Comments

How do you perceive the supply/amount of the following housing types in Stone Mountain?

Need More

Have the Right Amount

Need Less

No Opinion

Affordable Housing

27%

Need More

45%

Have the Right Amount

Need Less

20%

No Opinion

Senior Housing

22%

Need More

40%

Have the Right Amount

Need Less

31%

No Opinion

Multi-Family Housing

19%

Need More

25%

Have the Right Amount

39%

Need Less

17%

No Opinion

Mixed-Income Housing

21%

Need More

43%

Have the Right Amount

14%

Need Less

21%

No Opinion

59 responses

How do you perceive the following aspects of the City's transportation system?

Poor

Below Average

Adequate

Good

Excellent

No Opinion

Traffic Safety

22%

Poor

35%

Below Average

24%

Adequate

13%

Good

Excellent

No Opinion

Traffic Congestion

55%

Poor

29%

Below Average

11%

Adequate

Good

Excellent

No Opinion

Roadway Conditions/Maintenance

38%

Poor

29%

Below Average

30%

Adequate

Good

Excellent

No Opinion

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

29%

Poor

40%

Below Average

22%

Adequate

Good

Excellent

No Opinion

Public Transportation/Transit

19%

Poor

23%

Below Average

36%

Adequate

Good

Excellent

15%

No Opinion

58 responses

Are there any locations in the City that you feel are particularly dangerous for pedestrians or bicyclists? Please list specific intersections or areas – and what makes the area dangerous (e.g., traffic, traffic signals, lack of crosswalks, quality of road surface, etc.).

Closed for Comments

What is your primary reason for visiting downtown Stone Mountain (select all that apply)

Restaurants

77%

Events/Entertainment/Nightlife

44%

Shopping

27%

Government Services

19%

Business/Banking

16%

Other

15%

Closed to responses | 62 Responses

What do you think is the top project or improvement that could be made to downtown Stone Mountain?

If you see a response you agree with, you can upvote that response instead of replicating it.

Closed for Comments

If desired, please use the space below to list anything else you would like to be considered in future planning efforts for Stone Mountain that was not covered by the previous survey questions.

Closed for Comments

Which of the following statements apply to you? (select all that apply)

I am a resident of Stone Mountain

83%

I work in Stone Mountain

21%

I own a business located in Stone Mountain

20%

Other

Closed to responses | 66 Responses

If you are a resident of Stone Mountain, how long have you lived in the city?

More than 20 years

32%

More than 1 year but fewer than 5 years

19%

More than 5 years but fewer than 10 years

15%

More than 10 years but fewer than 20 years

15%

Less than 1 year

14%

Not applicable

Closed to responses | 59 Responses

What is your age?

60 or older

42%

50-59

25%

40-49

14%

30-39

13%

21-29

17 or younger

18-20

Closed to responses | 64 Responses

What race do you identify as?

Multiple races

Asian

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish

Black or African-American

White

American Indian or Alaska Native

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

Not listed

I prefer not to answer

Closed to responses

What is your gender identity?

Female

44%

Male

35%

I prefer not to answer

17%

Non-binary

Not listed

Closed to responses | 63 Responses

What best describes your housing status?

I am a homeowner

89%

I am a renter

I prefer not to answer

Not listed

I am a dependent

Closed to responses | 65 Responses

Schedule

complete

Steering Committee Meeting #1

February 23, 2021 at 4:00 PM (online)

complete

Steering Committee Meeting #2

May 3, 2021 at 3:30 PM (online)

complete

Public Engagement Opportunity - Virtual Open House

June 17, 2021 at 5:00 PM (online)

complete

Public Engagement Opportunity - Online Survey

Online survey open from April 22 through July 6. See "Welcome & Survey" tab on this project website.

complete

Steering Committee Meeting #3

August 12, 2021 at 4:00 PM (online)

complete

Transmittal Hearing

September 21, 2021 at 6:30 PM

complete

Review, Approval, and Adoption

DCA Review and Approval: Complete

Adoption: Oct. 28, 2021 at 6:00 PM

Stone Mountain 2021 Comprehensive Plan Update

Draft Plan for Review

Survey

Question title

What are the three (3) strongest assets in Stone Mountain currently?

Question title

What are the three (3) biggest challenges facing Stone Mountain currently?

Question title

What are three (3) words or phrases you would use to describe Stone Mountain to someone unfamiliar with the community?

Question title

Quality of life can be defined as the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group. How would you rate the quality of life that you experience in Stone Mountain ?

Question title

What places in Stone Mountain are most important to you? (e.g., local businesses, parks, places of worship, community centers, buildings, etc.)

Question title

Use this map to point out the places in Stone Mountain that are most important to you. (e.g., local businesses, parks, places of worship, community centers, buildings, etc.)

Question title

What are the most significant natural and environmental resources in the area? (Natural and environmental resources can include bodies of water, wildlife and wildlife habitat, forests, undeveloped land, etc.)

Question title

How would you characterize the pace of development in Stone Mountain in recent years?

Question title

Where do you think new development should be focused or located in Stone Mountain?

Question title

How do you perceive the supply/amount of the following housing types in Stone Mountain?

Question title

How do you perceive the following aspects of the City's transportation system?

Question title

Are there any locations in the City that you feel are particularly dangerous for pedestrians or bicyclists? Please list specific intersections or areas – and what makes the area dangerous (e.g., traffic, traffic signals, lack of crosswalks, quality of road surface, etc.).

Question title

What is your primary reason for visiting downtown Stone Mountain (select all that apply)

Question title

What do you think is the top project or improvement that could be made to downtown Stone Mountain?

Question title

If desired, please use the space below to list anything else you would like to be considered in future planning efforts for Stone Mountain that was not covered by the previous survey questions.

Question title

Which of the following statements apply to you? (select all that apply)

Question title

If you are a resident of Stone Mountain, how long have you lived in the city?

Question title

What is your age?

Question title

What race do you identify as?

Question title

What is your gender identity?

Question title

What best describes your housing status?

Schedule

Steering Committee Meeting #1

Steering Committee Meeting #2

Public Engagement Opportunity - Virtual Open House

Public Engagement Opportunity - Online Survey

Steering Committee Meeting #3

Transmittal Hearing

Review, Approval, and Adoption