Gwinnett County, Ga., located approximately 10 miles northeast of the City of Atlanta, is
one of the nation’s fastest-growing and most diverse counties. Over the past several
decades, it has transformed from a primarily rural and suburban county to an urbanizing
place, home to 16 municipalities and a variety of populations and communities that
combine to give Gwinnett a distinct, multicultural identity. Today, the county is home to
businesses of all sizes, from Fortune 500 headquarters to solo entrepreneurs, and also
boasts shopping, dining, entertainment, sports teams and cultural offerings. To ensure
Gwinnett’s continued growth and prosperity for all constituents, Gwinnett County
leadership engaged TSW Atlanta to work in partnership with government, business and
community leadership to create the Gwinnett County 2045 Unified Plan.
Engaging such a diverse population in the planning process was a considerable challenge.
First, TSW met with a variety of community stakeholders to learn as much as possible
about the county and to refine the collective desires for its future. With such a large area
to consider and no one “central city”, TSW began exploring the idea of Daily
Communities, based on the 15-Minute City urban planning concept, but adapted for a
more suburban context.
But first, the team needed to gather key information from across the county. How to best
excite and engage residents? Rather than hold a standard public forum, TSW invited
county residents to a series of Daily Community Cafés. Modeled after a local diner or
casual restaurant, and complete with props and TSW “servers”, these creative gatherings
offered attendees the opportunity to “order” specific types of housing, economic
development and amenities that they felt belonged within their own Daily Community. In
addition to being enjoyable, informative input sessions, the results clarified what types of
redevelopment residents desired for their own community’s center and gave citizens a
hands-on opportunity to impact key elements of the final plan.
The resulting plan, oriented around the Daily Community concept, imagines how
Gwinnett’s existing “centers” and urbanizing areas – mostly consisting of suburban-style
shopping centers – could be redeveloped to support a mix of uses, including housing,
retail, jobs, entertainment and other amenities. The concept sets out how residents can
access work, goods and services within a 15-minute trip from home. By zooming in to
the community scale, the plan provides clearer, more specific land use guidance. The
framework also recognizes and makes space for the diversity of residents and places
within Gwinnett County. It envisions the creation of desirable places, accommodates
growth and strengthens communities according to residents’ preferences and needs.

The end result is a stakeholder-informed roadmap for Gwinnett County’s future,
containing actionable goals, strategies, priorities and implementation to guide current and
future county leaders. It sets the policy agenda for growth and development over the next
20 years by examining the county’s current opportunities and challenges and anticipating
new ones. Most of all, Gwinnett County’s 2045 Unified Plan is a tool that provides
guidance for county staff, elected officials, and other leaders as they work to improve
Gwinnett County for all of its residents.