Developments of Regional Impact Program

An area’s Regional Commission determines whether the project warrants a DRI review according to threshold size and land use as determined by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. GRTA and the Regional Commission then coordinate with partner agencies, adjacent local governments and the applicant’s consultant team to conduct the review process.

This story map overviews DRIs within the GRTA jurisdiction while providing insight on the DRI process and the values it brings to the ATL region. More information on the DRI guidelines can be accessed  here .

A DRI can be found within the 13-county GRTA jurisdiction. Varying corresponding GDOT District Offices and Regional Commissions are applicable to each county’s DRI review as well.

The DRI process has been streamlined into seven steps, as listed below, to maximize the time and information provided and to involve partner agencies, adjacent local governments and the applicant’s consultant team.

GRTA staff strategically reviews a project based on an expedited review or non-expedited review timeline as displayed below.

GRTA’s purpose is to evaluate the proposed development’s effect on the surrounding transportation infrastructure and to identify options to mitigate current and future impacts to mobility using best-practice standards for transportation and land use.

• The DRI process is initiated when an Applicant files an action with a  Local Government  and, in coordination with their  Regional Commission , determines that the Project meets the requirement of a DRI.

• An expedited review takes 15 buisness days and a non-expedited review takes 25 buisness days.

• The  DCA  and Regional Commission websites contain detailed information on DRI triggering actions and the size and land use thresholds that constitute a DRI.

• All recommendations will need to be completed within the build out year as outlined in the Letter of Understaning.

• Goverment funding can be withheld from the applicant team and the local goverment has power to implement their own consequences.

• DRI submissions can be found at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs website,  here .