Visions 2015 Rockdale News Special Section | Page 9

By John Ruch

H

alfway through the creation of Co- bers to acknowledge the need for a written plan. Meanwhile, city
staff members pushed for a plan to give them better direction
nyers’ first-ever strategic plan, the
on such essential actions as budgeting.
Conyers signed on with the Vinson Institute, which began the
public participation is strong and
planning process last fall. A main step was forming the advisory
themes for the city’s future are emerging,
committee. Its membership includes: J.P. Alexander (Conyers
officials say.
planning department), Blair Barksdale, Chester Benton, Rev.
Dave Benson (Conyers First United Methodist Church), Grover
About 450 people responded to a recent
Dailey, Tom Harrison, Steven Holmes, Keish Momin (Conyers
online survey, in addition to some foDowntown Development Authority), Rev. Al Sadler (Church
cus-group meetings with citizens, said Lang- of New Beginnings/Citizens Progressive Club), Erika Sellers,
(Rockdale
ford Holbrook, a planner with the Univer- Samantha Swaney, Sarah Teach Williams. Medical Center) and
County Commissioner Doreen
sity of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of
Starting last fall, planners met with city staff and with focus
groups of residents. The resident survey, conducted mostly
Government who is leading the effort. He
online, ran for several weeks in February and March. It asked
gave the News a preview of one overarch- opinions and wishes for Olde Town and Conyers in general,
along with demographic info—such as age and income level—
ing theme.
“People love Olde Town,” Holbrook said. of the person answering. The 450 responses was good for a city
this size, Holbrook said.
“They want more of it and
While the plan is about all of Conyers, its
final report will focus on Olde Town, Holbetter [versions] of it.”
“Just because

brook said, because it’s “the central point of
we operate the
the wheel.”
The strategic plan is a kind of blueprint
The plan will be “not just a wish-list,” Holgovernment day
for future development and revitalization
brook said. It will set some priorities and ways
efforts. The Conyers version will include a
in, day out, doesn’t
to achieve them fairly soon. Depending on
two-year “action plan” for implementing
what the priorities are, that may include both
mean the way we
some of its main ideas, Holbrook said. But
design-oriented and policy-oriented solutions.
first, there will be more public meetings
do things and the
The strategic plan also expands upon exand review by an advisory committee of
vision we have for
isting city planning efforts, such as the recent
residents and officials.
Olde Town rezoning. In part, it’s a way to make
the future are the
“That’s the whole concept, is to have the
sure the current administration’s “legacy is kind
public involved,” said Conyers Chief Opersame as what the
of etched in stone,” Spann said.
ating Officer David Spann.
people who live
But the public’s priorities are a big part of
Many Georgia cities have some type of
it, too. “It’s not [city officials’] plan. It’s the
here think.."
strategic plan, often spelling out the goals
citizens’ plan,” Spann said.
and methods of future economic develSpann called the process so far “eye-opendavid spann
opment for 10 years or so. Holbrook has
Conyers Chief Operating ing” for both officials and residents.
worked on many such plans, including for
Officer
“Just because we operate the government
Gainesville and Rome, Ga.
day in, day out, doesn’t mean the way we do
Some Conyers officials have talked about
things and the vision we have for the future are
a strategic plan for years. A major inspirathe same as what the people who live here think,” Spann said.
tion is the city of Decatur, a booming Atlanta suburb with a
thriving downtown that Conyers would love to emulate. Decatur Likewise, he added, residents often have “preconceived notions”
about city officials’ intentions that may not be true.
has shaped its redevelopment with a strategic plan first created
In Decatur, Menne said, that kind of input has been valuable.
in 2000, and most recently updated in 2010.
It helps the city explain why some wish-list items might not
“You can see the results of that today,” Spann said. “It’s a
be feasible, and it also means that when changes do happen,
vibrant, livable, walkable community.”
“There are no surprises.”
Lyn Menne, Decatur’s assistant city manager, told the News
“I think the critical piece is, you want to engage as many resithat a similar plan for Conyers is a great idea.
dents as possible, because it’s their city,” she said.
“We would highly recommend it, because you really need to
In Conyers, that input will continue for roughly two more
know where you’re going to be able to get there,” she said.
months. While the results remain to be seen, Holbrook said,
Conyers officials got serious about creating a strategic plan at
Conyers is starting from a good position.
their Winter Retreat in early 2014, due to pressures both inside
“Conyers has a lot of great things going on,” he said. “It’s a
and outside City Hall. Public criticism of some large-scale reneat old town.” RN
zoning efforts led Mayor Randy Mills and City Council mem-

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