Brunswick County residents can weigh in on the future of land use and parks and recreation in the county as part of an initiative called Blueprint Brunswick 2040.

According to a news release, Brunswick County’s Planning and Parks and Recreation departments have teamed up for the year-long initiative to craft two new plans: a Comprehensive Land Use Plan and a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. 

“Together, these two new plans will guide future growth, decisions and investments in infrastructure and services within the county,” according to the release.

Chairman Frank Williams said in the release, “The county wants to preserve our natural resources, protect our neighborhoods and respect and uphold private property rights while continuing to be a great place to do business. If this new plan is to be effective, it must have balanced input from all sectors of our community, not be dominated by any one group. That’s why it’s so important for as many citizens as possible to provide input during this planning process.”

According to the release, the project is currently in the second phase of a four-phase timeline. Since July, county staff members have been gathering data and maps on the study areas, hosting steering committee meetings, and holding a tour and visioning meetings with county commissioners. The next phase is community input and engagement.

“As one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, having strong comprehensive plans now is crucial to ensure we’re preparing for the growth we’re going to get over the next 20 years,” Planning Director Kirstie Dixon said in the release. “Where will new housing and commercial developments go? What kind of infrastructure will we need to stay connected? What kind of programming and facilities are needed in our parks? And what will it all look like? These are all questions we want to ask you as we work on these plans.”

Residents have several opportunities to participate both virtually and in-person this fall. Individuals can find resources, maps, upcoming meetings and the online survey now at BlueprintBrunswick2040.com. The November meeting information is also online.