Community Vision

Visions are important in setting the stage for where we want to be in the future. They are expressions of our hopes, dreams and aspirations.

As a community, we have worked hard over the years to create our own unique vision of Athens.

In 1992 the Athens-Clarke Tomorrow initiative (ACT), which I participated in as a member of the Steering Committee, established a remarkable vision for this community. Hundreds of citizens from across the community worked hard and after many months created a body of recommendations and strategies for achieving that vision.

Six years later, during the development of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, hundreds came together once again to set forth a fresh, new vision of Athens which is now embodied in the Guiding Principles.

The similarities between these two documents are nothing short of amazing. In comparing the two, you will find that the Guiding Principles mirror, and affirm, the initial vision created in 1992.

My hope for Athens-Clarke County’s future matches the dreams shaped by the thousands of citizens who made their voices heard in the crafting of these documents and at the ballot box over the last 16 years. The ACT recommendations along with the Guiding Principles of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan are the voice of the people. They are clear and finely tuned expressions of our values. These are our shared community "road maps" and should be used to guide us as we seek solutions and make important decisions. First as a private citizen and now as your Mayor, it is incumbent upon me to guard these values and hold fast to ensuring they guide our path as we seek solutions and make important decisions.

I am dedicated to the vision that includes sustainable development, strong neighborhoods, environmental and community protections, transportation alternatives, productive town/gown relations, and a thriving local economy made up of a vibrant mix of small businesses, service, and industry.

My greatest hope is that you will allow me the privilege of continuing to work towards the future you so strongly desire.

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