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

Proximity to the park
The bones for a thriving business community
Loyal locals dying for things to do/ places to go in stone mountain

3 years ago

Reply 58 Agree

Community
Walk ability
Small size

3 years ago

Reply 40 Agree

Potential for thriving business and social community
Walkability

3 years ago

Reply 34 Agree

Potentially walkability- some improvement still badly needed.

3 years ago

Reply 26 Agree

Friendly atmosphere, small town feel, proximity to other local destinations

3 years ago

Reply 26 Agree

The walkability. Small town feel but still close to the city. The potential of growing into a really thriving town. So many opportunities for growth and development if government would allow change.

3 years ago

Reply 5 Agree

Rozes jossAs long as Main St continues to be a drive through only, our businesses will suffer. Our streets and roads in coming and out going will continue to be destroyed. Parking free for St Mt Park visitors will continue to stop the flow of revenue to businesses on Main St and side streets . We can only grow if we do this together. Conflicts among residents, council members and businesses has to stop. There must be Unity. Raising of taxes with no concern that we were all suffering through this pandemic was unconquerable. Why do we still have NO library? This is a source of education, computer assistance for those that need help and not to mention books for us all to indulge in through this unusual time.

3 years ago

Reply 3 Agree

G CriswellA massive infrastructure project on James B. Rivers East from Memorial Drive to Ponce de Leon Avenue would be a great step toward creating a positive image for the city and a safe pedestrian and cyclist pathway to the mountain. This street is a major gateway to the state's largest tourist attraction, Stone Mountain, as well as to the City of Stone Mountain and currently the business district in this area looks like something from a Zombie Apocalypse movie. The currently approved traffic study does NOT take the needs or desires of the residents and businesses into account and does not provide a measurement for tracking the point at which traffic speeds reach their peak, which is in front of Veal Street. There is zero transparency about the cost of the study and why it does not include this key detail or why it does not include an accounting for the weights of the massive vehicles that use this street on a regular basis. There is currently no way to safely walk in this area to downtown or to the mountain and the City Council has so far refused to include these key measurements in the upcoming traffic study. To obtain accurate information on ways to proceed with improvements to this area, both of these details need to be measured and the will of the tax paying citizens with regard to how the study is handled, needs to be addressed. The City and Public Works Department have been asked to wait until a consensus from residents and businesses can be obtained in order to conduct a traffic study that accurately reflects our issues and to provide transparency with regard to this upcoming study.

3 years ago

Reply 3 Agree

Gregory ParkerThe city has alot of potential but there is to much red tape to start a business.And the leadership or people in power aren't properly spending the funds I've been a home owner since 1997 here and have payed close attention.Also the property taxes are ridiculous for this small town and compared to near by cities .

3 years ago

Reply 2 Agree

Historical importance of Shermantown and stories of generations of residents

3 years ago

Reply 2 Agree

MB ReedIts history and its historic buildings

3 years ago

Reply 2 Agree

small size
diversity
transparent city government

3 years ago

Reply 2 Agree

ESFDiversity
Stone Mountain Park
Downtown

3 years ago

Reply 2 Agree

Stone Mountain Park
Thousands of cars travel up and down Main Street everyday.
Historic City

3 years ago

Reply 2 Agree

Proximity to ATL
Proximity to Stn Mtn Park
Walkability

3 years ago

Reply 1 Agree

Stone Mountain is close to the park and everyone just parks here so they can go in for free. There is not shops here for people to purchase items from other that drinking and dining establishments. This used to be a thriving community and over the years the town has gone in the toilet. There are no festivals, outdoor events or even parades anymore.

3 years ago

Reply 1 Agree

Proximity to the park
The expanding dining and shopping options
Walking to the village or parking and being able to walk to dine and shop

3 years ago

Reply 1 Agree

Jalaire HickmanEasy access to Stone Mt Park
Small community feel
Friendly neighbors

3 years ago

Reply 1 Agree

It has so much potential downtown Stone Mountain. The rent is a little pricey though.

3 years ago

Reply 1 Agree

In your plan , you have misleading information! You have properties listed as downtown Stone Mountain when they actually in the City of Tucker.

3 years ago

Reply 1 Agree

Proximity to Stone Mountain Park
Georgia Military College
New businesses revitalizing downtown business district

3 years ago

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