Beth Reynolds, Director of Development Services for the City of Winder, discusses why planning and development matters for a city.

How did you get to this role?

I've been with city and county government for a number of years—most of my career. Several years ago, there was a change in the department and an opportunity presented itself. I've been able to take my skills and my knowledge and pull it forth and step into the role. 

What is a fun fact about Beth? 
In my spare time, I like to fish. I like to kayak. So I'm kind of a lake bug. I enjoy getting away and spending time in nature. 

How would you explain what planning and zoning are to a fifth grader?
It'd be like getting some Legos and building a little town—building a little model community. You would have to determine where the roads, the infrastructure, the houses, the schools, and the shopping centers would go. As city planners, we have to make sure that everybody has the services they need: fire, water, and all kinds of utility infrastructure.

What experience do you have in mapping? 
A lot of folks view it as creating a pretty picture, but there's so much more to mapping. Mapping has evolved over time, especially with technology. That's very important to map out what you have and know what you have as a city. I think that that's something the public may not know that is that we have maps of everything: utility lines, zoning, what properties are used for. 

What is the coolest map that you've ever created?
Probably the one I’ve enjoyed the most is the cemetery map. We GPS-mapped and collected all the information from our cemetery. It’s been really interesting. People from out of town, whose hobby is visiting cemeteries and studying history, have come to see it. You can learn a lot by looking at headstones and tracing the history of families.

What is a common misconception that Winder residents may have about just the development services or planning department?
I think the biggest misconception for me is that people think we are really the office of no. 

I want people to understand and know that we all have rules and regulations we follow in our day-to-day lives. Our department would like to bring people to a yes. Sometimes that takes developments a little bit longer or people longer to bring into that compliance. But for the most part, we're not here to be that red tape. We're here to help people and walk them through the process.

It's like paying taxes. Nobody likes to pay taxes. But we have to and, through that process, the best easy way we can do that. But stay in the compliance, stay with the code—that's what we would like to do.

Now, we offer our development team meetings. Over the past year, we had over 100 appointments. They're open by appointment to the citizens, developers, anybody who is kicking around an idea. They can come before the team and we walk them through it. It’s very informal. 

However, we do let them know ahead of time what they're up against in the code, if there's any things that are red hot topics. But it gives them opportunity to revisit, get their design more professional, to look at it maybe through a separate lens if it's something that's not going to work.

We do get a number of people coming in not happy. We try to work with those folks. We try to explain, sit down, have meetings, just have a have a face-to-face conversation and walk through the problem. 

How do you handle code enforcement? How do you explain that to a citizen as to what the benefit of code enforcement? 

It has the nasty word in there. Enforcement. Sometimes people don't like being told no or that they have to fix things. 

At the end of the day, what we're all striving for is to have a safe, vibrant, walkable, livable community. Code enforcement is there to back that up, whether it's blighted properties or things that are happening that shouldn't be. It's just a mechanism and a tool for our citizens. I encourage people to report things when there appears to be a problem or a concern.

Would you say that compliance is the main goal when taking someone to court?
Yes. Most definitely. I believe that the city is not looking at it as a tool to make money or to cause heartache. I think at the end of the day, our goal is to step back, look at the bigger picture with the complainant as well as the complaint, and see if we can get resolution to that.

I think compliance and safety and, even aesthetically, you know, beefing up the town is much more important.

How does planning and zoning shape the daily experience people have in Winder?
We recently updated our comprehensive plan. It’s a fluid document that outlines our long-term goals, and the city’s development code supports it. During the planning process, we invited public input through open houses and meetings with community stakeholders— people shared what they wanted, like great dining options and quality neighborhoods.

Right now, Winder is experiencing exponential growth, not just simple growth, and that can be challenging. Planning and zoning can’t pick specific businesses, but it lays out where things like restaurants, schools, and neighborhoods should go. It’s a critical tool for guiding growth thoughtfully and making sure it happens in a way that’s comfortable and sustainable.

How do you respond when residents say they want a specific restaurant or business to come to Winder?
That’s a common misconception. People sometimes think we can pick and choose what businesses come here, but we can’t. We can zone areas for certain types of uses — residential, commercial, retail — and council helps set those guidelines based on what they hear from constituents. But we can't recruit specific businesses ourselves.

If someone really wants to recruit a business, where can they turn?
I'd refer them to the Chamber of Commerce or the Downtown Development Authority. They do a great job supporting local businesses and working on recruitment efforts that the city itself isn’t able to handle. Planning and zoning helps set the stage, but groups like the Chamber or DDA are the ones who can swing the club, so to speak.

What are the biggest challenges Winder faces right now?
Our biggest challenge is balancing our small-town feel with the rapid growth we’re experiencing. Longtime residents love the community atmosphere, and even newcomers say that’s why they chose Winder. You can’t stop growth. Growth is coming. You can be part of that growth and help prepare that or you can stick your head in the sand and be frustrated. I see it as an opportunity to help guide that growth and help prepare for that growth. 

In preparation for growth, the city is very much all hands-on deck. We have to look at it through the lens of the services we provide—fire, police protection, and roads. We’re currently in the process of developing a transportation improvement plan. From the city's perspective, there are a lot of factors we are working on to get ahead of this growth. 

We’re also seeing businesses that have never been in Winder before—businesses you usually see in larger towns—expressing interest in coming here. It’s important for us to be proactive, to be out in front of that growth, and to help shape the direction Winder wants to take. As the saying goes, we want to leave it better than we found it.

As a lifelong resident, you might wonder: how do you have a say in the planning decisions being made?
We actually offer several ways for citizens to get involved. First and foremost, when developments come through, citizens are always welcome to attend council meetings, speak during citizens’ input, and speak during public hearings.

Additionally, the city's comprehensive plan—which we revisit every five years—includes open houses and public input sessions. We also offer opportunities to serve on various boards such as the Historic Preservation Commission, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and others that help guide development decisions. We welcome and encourage citizen input, and our doors are always open to hear from the community.

Someone once asked me, "Why do we even need planning?" I told them, "Well, do you want a Wal-Mart built right next to your house? Why do we need planning?
Planning is important because it helps ensure things like buffers and zoning standards are in place—guidelines that protect the quality of life in our community and help development happen in a thoughtful, organized way.

The code sets clear guidelines for development. It ensures residential, commercial, and other types of growth have a proper place in the community. It’s about keeping things organized and maintaining the vision for Winder’s future.

What excites you most about Winder's future?
I feel blessed to be part of Winder’s growth. One day, I’ll be able to look back and say, "I had a hand in that," whether it’s a new development or improvements to the city. We're in a really good place right now. Growth can be challenging for some, but it’s exciting to help shape something that can benefit future generations.

Is there anything else you'd want people to know?
I'd want people to know that our department is here to help, not to be the "no" or the red tape. We want a vibrant, beautiful community just like our citizens do. I have a great team. I couldn't be where I am without my team, so they're always helpful. The doors are open.

How do we contact you? 
We have a great new website, www.cityofwinder.com/government/planning-department. It's very informative, very comprehensive. You can go there to find any information we have, contact information, FAQs and questions that we normally get. Our applications are now online.