The City of McLendon-Chisholm has completed its 2026–2027 Annual Strategic Plan, establishing a clear roadmap for managing growth while preserving the semi-rural character, open spaces, and strong sense of community that residents value. Guided by the theme “Hold Firm. Grow Smart.”, the plan reflects a shared commitment to intentional development, fiscal sustainability, quality public services, and long-term community stewardship.
The planning process began by listening to the community. A resident survey gathered input from 422 participants and produced an overall satisfaction score of 70 out of 100. Public safety emerged as the City’s strongest asset, receiving a 94 percent rating. At the same time, residents identified managing growth, retail and dining options, and road infrastructure as important areas for improvement. The findings demonstrated that residents are not opposed to growth, but expect development to be intentional, high-quality, and consistent with McLendon-Chisholm’s unique identity.
Community feedback was complemented by individual interviews with the Mayor and City Council, as well as a data-driven strategic planning retreat held on June 13, 2026. Together, these activities helped City leadership build consensus around a new mission, vision, and six strategic priority areas.
The priorities focus on preserving and protecting community character, strengthening development standards, improving quality of life and placemaking, building a fiscally sustainable commercial base, delivering high-quality City services, and investing in infrastructure and mobility. These priorities are designed to help the City move from reactive growth management toward proactive planning and disciplined execution.
The plan also establishes accountability through quarterly progress reporting, alignment of budget and capital decisions with strategic priorities, and an annual Council review. These governance measures will help ensure that the plan remains active, measurable, and responsive as McLendon-Chisholm continues to grow.
