Welcome to the Johnson City Growth Management Plan (Horizon 2045) planning process! We are excited to have you be part of the plan’s Advisory Committee and would like to thank you for committing to such an important effort in Johnson City. This handbook introduces you to what, generally, a growth management plan is, provides an overview of this planning process, and outlines your expected role in the planning process.
WHAT IS A GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN?
Horizon 2045 is the City’s growth management plan, which is a process to:
Explore how the City wants to grow
Align that vision with the community’s goals for economic development, housing, quality of life, and more
Develop the future land use strategy and policy framework
Focus on implementation to guide the City’s near- and long-term decision-making and investment
Horizon 2045 will be used as our framework over the next 20+ years to guide decision-making related to a variety of important topics, such as development, investments in infrastructure, zoning, and preservation of community character.
What will be the Outcome of the Plan?
The key outcome of the plan will be the Future Land Use Map, which will guide future growth and development in Johnson City. A series of framework elements will be created to support the land use strategies. These framework elemens will touch on topics like:
Transportation and Mobility
Economic Development
Housing
Infrastructure and Public Service
Schools
Recreation and Trails
Natural Resources and Environmental
Historic and Cultural Resources
How Does the Plan Relate to the Zoning Ordinance?
The City’s Growth Management Plan will be a policy document that sets the vision for how Johnson City wants to grow in the future; the Zoning Ordinance is the legal tool that regulates the implementation of that vision related to land use. The Zoning Code of the City of Johnson City was adopted on October 1, 2020. A typical outcome of a growth management planning process like Horizon 2045 would be to take a fresh look at the zoning ordinance and assess the need to update.
PLANNING PROCESS OVERVIEW
Creating a growth management plan takes time. A well-planned document can only be achieved through a deliberate and organized process that balances data and community input to create a plan made for the people it represents. This process will conclude with adoption in Fall 2024 and will progress through the following three phases: PHASE 1
PHASE 2 PLAN PHASE 3 FINALIZE
PROJECT SCHEDULE
Phase 1 | ENVISION Phase 2 |
This project schedule provides a detailed look at the different phases of Johnson City, the major tasks associated with each phase, and their anticipated timelines. The schedule also shows the deliverables, meetings, and the community engagement opportunities associated with each phase. Three digital engagement series are interspersed throughout the timeline.
PLAN Phase 3 | FINALIZE
WHAT IS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE?
An Advisory Committee should always be tailored to the project for which it is assembled. For Johnson City, the Advisory Committee will guide the development of the growth management plan. Its members will help inform the outcomes of major milestones to ensure the plan is made by the community and for the community. The committee was carefully curated to represent different facets of the community and act as a diverse voice of the people.
Advisory Committee Roles and Expectations
The Advisory Committee will collaborate with the project team throughout the plan’s development. It is our hope that Advisory Committee members will help promote and advertise the community events within their networks as well as attend when possible to provide input. Finally, members will help review plan deliverables when asked.
Exceptional committee members demonstrate a few desired attributes—many of which you exemplify, as you were chosen to serve on the Advisory Committee:
Commitment. We ask you to stay committed for the entirety of the process. Consistent voices are important for a successful plan, and we want yours to be included and heard.
Advocacy. As the plan progresses, we also ask that you are a willing and eager advocate for the City and the plan. The energy you bring to this process will be mirrored in the public’s commitment to the plan.
Participatory. We ask that you are willing to share your ideas and unique perspectives. Everyone on this committee was chosen because of his/her influence in Johnson City. It’s important that your voice is heard.
Open-Minded. Differing opinions are often uncovered through sharing, so we ask that you are receptive to and respectful of other members’ ideas by keeping an open mind.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT A GLANCE
Characteristics
Size—The Advisory Committee is comprised of 22 members from a diversity of backgrounds
Role—Each Advisory Committee member is tasked with serving in an advisory role throughout the development of Horizon 2045
Expectations
Actively participate in every Advisory Committee meeting
Help promote and participate in community events
Review materials
Be an ambassador during plan development and a champion during plan implementation
TIME COMMITMENT
As we ask for your time and dedication on this project, we want to be clear about our expectations for what that time commitment may be. The information below estimates the time you will dedicate to the Growth Management Plan through Fall 2024.
Membership Duration | Members will serve on the Advisory Committee beginning October 2023 until adoption in Fall 2024.
Meeting Participation | Five meetings of up to 2 hours each. Note: Our preference is for in-person meetings, though hybrid virtual meetings may be arranged.
Document Review | Document review will vary but will likely be no more than 1 to 2 hours every other month during review periods.
Event Participation | In addition to Advisory Committee meetings, this plan will also include three community workshops, three pop-up events in the City, and three digital engagement series. We ask that committee members help promote these events and participate when possible.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The Advisory Committee is made up of the following community members, residents, organizational representatives, business people, faith leaders, students, and advocates.
Jeff Dykes
Cooper Reaves
Chris Dagenhart
Todd Wood
TR Dunn
John Goetz
Kathy Hall
Teresa “Sis” Mc Adams
Barry Drummond
Steve Neilson
Danny Sells
Georgita Washington
Shannon Casillo
Brenda Whitson
Michael Fowler
Freddie Malone
Sean Oschenbein
Ashley Cavendar
Joe Bradley
Jeremy Ross
PEOPLE AND PARTIES
In addition to the Advisory Committee, various people and groups are involved in this planning process. These groups and their roles in the process are explained below.
Project Team
The project team is made up of a project liaison—who will act as the bridge between City staff and the consultant team— and the consultant team from Kimley-Horn. The project team’s job is to keep the plan’s schedule on track and ensure every milestone is being completed. The main points of contact for Johnson City are shown below.
Jonathan Whitehurst Community Engagement Lead (Kimley-Horn) jonathan.whitehurst@kimley-horn.com
Rachel Hill Deputy Project Manager (Kimley-Horn) rachel.hill@kimley-horn.com
Core Team
City staff from other departments will serve as the technical experts. They will meet with the project team at different milestones to provide their expertise on a given topic.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission is a 10-member board that serves in an advisory capacity to Johnson City City Council. The Planning Commission works closely with city staff to make recommendations to City Commission regarding various land use issues, such as rezoning. The Planning Commission will be kept informed of the planning process and ultimately will recommend the final plan for adoption by the City Commission. Three joint work sessions with the Planning Commission and the City Commission are planned as part of the Johnson City process.
City Commission
The City Council is the elected City legislature. The project team will meet with the City Council multiple times throughout the process to ensure the members stay informed and weigh in at key milestones. The City Council will be the body that adopts the Growth Management Plan.
Key Stakeholders
Key stakeholders from a variety of organizations, including community groups, major employers, neighborhood organizations, and agencies will be engaged during a series of stakeholder meetings interspersed throughout the process. This ongoing engagement will ensure their involvement and buy-in to in the plan.
General Public
The general public that lives, works, or recreates in Johnson City will be crucial to engage in this planning process. The public’s investment in the plan ensures that it will be a Growth Management Plan that truly reflects the community’s needs and vision for the City.
THANK YOU!
On behalf of the City of Johnson City, the project team thanks you for your time and dedication to Johnson City. With your input, we can ensure the plan represents this exceptional community.
