Gwinnett County has received national recognition for its 2045 Unified Plan, earning the Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan from the American Planning Association. The award highlights the county’s strategic approach to future growth and development.
The 2045 Unified Plan was developed through a broad public engagement process, aiming to provide direction for one of the country’s most diverse suburban areas. Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson said, “This national recognition reflects the vision and hard work that went into shaping Gwinnett’s future. I’m grateful to our Planning and Development team and the many residents who shared their insights throughout this process. The 2045 Unified Plan lays out a clear path for growth that keeps Gwinnett vibrant, connected, and prepared for what’s ahead.”
The Daniel Burnham Award is named after an influential urban planner and recognizes comprehensive plans with exceptional vision, originality, and potential for implementation.
Robert J. Duffy, FAICP, chair of the 2025 APA National Planning Awards jury, commented on the plan: “The Gwinnett County 2045 Unified Plan demonstrates a clear commitment to reimagining suburban growth around an inclusive, community-centered vision. The plan creates thoughtful growth opportunities so every resident can access daily services and connect meaningfully with their community.”
A key feature of the plan is the Daily Community Framework, which identifies 87 distinct areas in Gwinnett County. This framework aims to improve residents’ daily experiences by enhancing mobility, expanding access to goods and services, and strengthening local identity.
Since adopting the plan, Gwinnett County has begun implementing initiatives such as small area plans, zoning overlays, and infrastructure strategies to better align land use decisions with capital investments.
Gwinnett County schools enrolled a total of 190,044 students in the 2022-23 school year according to data from the Georgia Department of Education (https://www.gadoe.org/). Enrollment increased by less than 0.1% compared to the previous year (https://www.gadoe.org/). White students made up 18% of all students during that period (https://www.gadoe.org/).
More information about the plan can be found at GwinnettCounty.com/2045UnifiedPlan.
