Comprehensive Planning
Programs & Initiatives

GROWTH MANAGEMENT: To coordinate the growth management program and complement community development strategies, the city retains a full-time planning director. The city appoints three representatives to a joint municipalities/county board, the Morgan County Planning Commission. Madison's three planning commissioners, as well as a liaison from each of the entities listed below, form the Planning Advisory Board (PAB). The PAB evaluates development trends, reviews development standards, serves as a forum for inter-board communication, and addresses volunteer education and management issues.

ACHIEVEMENTS/PROJECTS/PROGRAMS: s  Joint Comprehensive Plan s  Minimum Standards for Development - Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Environmental Planning Criteria, Stormwater Management Ordinance, Design Criteria, Sign & Tree ordinances, etc. s  Northeast Georgia RDC Area s  Five Towns East Alliance

HISTORIC PRESERVATION: Madison's local preservation program is administered by the Madison Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), established in 1987. This dedicated volunteer board protects the community's wealth of historic resources, first listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Because of the work of the HPC, Madison also qualifies as a Certified Local Government (CLG) community. In addition, the board serves as the Design Committee for the Madison Main Street Program. This civic board also works cooperatively to sponsor community preservation with local non-profits: Morgan County Historical Society, Morgan County Landmarks Society, Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, and Madison-Morgan African-American Museum.

ACHIEVEMENTS/PROJECTS/PROGRAMS: s  Certified Local Government Community s  Madison Historic District (600+ resources) - National Historic Register of Historic Places, Georgia Historic Register of Historic Places, Locally Designated Historic District s   National Trust for HP Award-Winning - Madison Historic Preservation Manual s  Minimum Maintenance Requirement s  Heritage Education - Historic Ornament Series

GREENSPACE CONSERVATION: Also known as the Tree Board, the Madison Greenspace Commission (GSC) leads the local community forestry effort. Since 1990, this committed board of volunteers has provided a focus for the conservation of the municipality's natural resources. Madison is considered to be a Sustained Level Community by the Georgia Forestry Commission. This board works cooperatively to sponsor establishment of additional greenspace with the Madison-Morgan Recreational Authority and the new Madison-Morgan Conservancy.

ACHIEVEMENTS/PROJECTS/PROGRAMS: ? Urban & Community Forestry Community, Sustained Level Certification ? Tree City USA Program - 12 years ? R.O.W. Planting Program - plant 40-50 trees annually to insure municipal canopy ? T.R.E.E. Program - management of a $25,000 endowment; established a 50/50 grant program to encourage tree planting ? Round Bowl Springs - new native species passive park on original town spring site

CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT: The Madison Corridor Design Commission (CDC), created in 1997 to protect the city's roadways and gateways, is an innovative board of volunteers who administer the corridor management program. Recognizing that a community's first and last impression are its entrances and the pending surge of insensitive strip development, the CDC challenges new development to respect the locale and to raise the design bar. This board reviews new construction proposals and is developing plans to create landscaped gateways to the community.

ACHIEVEMENTS/PROJECTS/PROGRAMS: ? Overlay Zoning Districts for Design Review ? I.S.T.E.A. 441 Corridor Enhancement Project ? Joint Representation - two seats reserved for non-residents to afford county the option of a unified approach to bypass development ? Gateway Development & Interstate Buffer ? Keep Georgia Beautiful Program ? Adopt-A-Road Program

CEMETERY STEWARDSHIP: Established in 2002, the Madison Cemetery Stewardship Commission (CSC) reflects the community's renewed interest in acknowledging and protecting its local cemeteries. This energized volunteer board guides the use and care of the Madison City Cemetery, which includes four (4) distinct cemeteries: Old Cemetery, New Cemetery, Fairview and Madison Memorial (nee Morgan Memorial) cemeteries. This civic board is particularly proud of its first community initiative, A Day of Remembrance - a biennial luminary celebration of ancestors and loved ones. The CSC works cooperatively with local churches, civic groups, schools, etc. to sponsor maintenance and educational programs.

ACHIEVEMENTS/PROJECTS/PROGRAMS: s  A Day of Remembrance - an biennial luminary celebration  s  Memorial Marker Program - a personalized plaque program honoring loved ones and supporting cemetery improvements