Synopsis: The Atlanta Livable Communities Coalition is a diverse network of leaders, citizens, organizations, institutions, and businesses who all share a determination to work together to achieve quality growth for the Atlanta region.

The Atlanta Livable Communities Coalition is a diverse network of leaders, citizens, organizations, institutions, and businesses who all share a determination to work together to achieve quality growth for the Atlanta region. The Coalition believes that every citizen has an interest in making our growing community a better place now and in the future, and works to serve as a catalyst for thoughtful, inclusive decision making about community growth and development. The Atlanta region is expected to grow by more than 2 million people over the next 25 years. Metro Atlanta continues to grow rapidly at the edges, but infill residential and commercial development in the city and inner suburbs has increased as has the development of conservation subdivisions outside the city. By embracing quality growth for the region, the Coalition focuses on ways in which the region can create more housing choices closer to jobs, reduce traffic, increase the tax base and preserve green space.

The Coalition was formed in 2005 as a result of the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s “Quality Growth Task Force” recommendations for accommodating regional growth in a way that protects and improves our quality of life and strengthens our business environment. The Livable Communities Coalition consists of diverse a Board of Trustees and Ex-Officio members from the public and private sectors as well as civic organizations. The Coalition is lead by a diverse Board of Trustees. Larry L. Gellerstedt, III, President, Office/Multi-Family Division, Cousins Properties, Inc. is Chair of the Livable Communities Coalition. Financial support is provided by donations from philanthropic foundations, corporate foundations, corporations and individuals. ULI Atlanta is a member of the Coalition. Their participation builds upon the District Council’s involvement in several multi-stakeholder initiatives to promote smart growth in the Atlanta region.

The Quality Growth Task Force consisted of 46 diverse representatives from local governments, the state legislature, businesses, developers, universities, civic and environmental groups and state and regional agencies came together for eight months in 2003-2004 to study the region’s growth and make recommendation for how we can achieve quality growth for the region. The Task Force created the Livable Communities Coalition to ensure dedicated ongoing and long-term communication and advocacy efforts to advance quality growth.

The Coalition, which focuses on education and communication, implementation, and public policy, is guided by the following four principles:

1. Support greater densities and mixed use developments in appropriate areas, especially in our region’s centers and transportation corridors
2. Increase housing choices by removing barriers that artificially restrict the market
3. Integrate transportation investments with appropriate land use
4. Guide how greenfield land is developed, promoting more land-efficient development, water resources conservation, open space preservation and infrastructure optimization.