JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Johnson City City Commission approved Horizon 2045 in a unanimous vote on Thursday.

Horizon 2045 is a growth management plan that sets the vision for what Johnson City wants to look like over the next 20 years.

The plan provides strategies in a future land use plan that city leaders can use to guide city growth and improvements.

City Planning Manager Whitney Hodges said this has been a long-developed project.

“It’s mandated by the state, according to the annotated code,” she explained. “Updating it was necessary, so when the city manager joined, it became one of her top priorities. We kicked off the process in December 2022.”

The team working on the initiative gathered demographic data and sought insights from community members and leaders to form a well-rounded vision of the future Johnson City residents desire. This involved community discussions, census data collection, and attending commission meetings for feedback.

Hodges said that community conversations were the key to developing Horizon 2045.

“People expressed worries about housing and preserving the unique character of Johnson City,” Hodges mentioned. “Those were common concerns, and I believe the plan successfully encapsulates what we all feel defines Johnson City’s spirit. That aspect was probably the most rewarding part of the process; unlike formal meetings, these planning sessions allowed for open dialogue.”

Hodges said that the project aims to accommodate all residents, rather than targeting a single lifestyle.

“We each have different lifestyles,” she observed. “As we progress through life’s phases, our living needs change. In formulating this plan, we aimed to accommodate the diverse living preferences of our citizens as we consider future growth.”

Hodges expressed satisfaction now that, after extensive planning, data collection, and discussions, the project is moving forward. Nevertheless, it’s time to dive back into the work.

“What’s ahead is a substantial amount of work,” she remarked. “All departments involved in managing growth have tasks to tackle. This phase is invigorating because we now possess data and community backing to advance both ongoing and newly initiated efforts.”