Envision Gaston

A New Look for Gaston County

Welcome to Envision Gaston! We're taking a fresh look at the unincorporated areas of the County. Please take a moment to learn more about the process of creating our new comprehensive plan and stay tuned for future engagement opportunities.

While you're here, you can also join the mailing list to be the first to hear the latest news regarding planning and zoning developments in Gaston County.

Get Involved

Stay on the lookout for project updates and future engagement opportunities. For now, please provide us feedback on what your big idea is for Gaston County.

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Learn More

View the project overview and the engagement timeline.

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FAQs

Learn more about the project.

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Get Involved

Thank you to everyone who attended our three August workshop sessions and to all who completed the online survey and the interactive mapping activity! Your input will inform the next steps of the planning process. As we turn our attention to our land use strategy and supportive actions, we want to hear your ideas for the future of Gaston County.

What is your big idea for Gaston County?

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Recent
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10 September, 2025

Resident says:

Gaston County can turn rapid growth into a strength by investing in smart infrastructure for a connected, mobile future for everyone.

10 September, 2025

WARPNC25 says:

Abandoned land and dilapidated properties in our area repurposed into vibrant community gardens and safe spaces for unhoused families.

8 September, 2025

littlemrssunshine41 says:

Turn the Eastridge Mall into something more useful for Gaston County like a Senior Living facility or a strip mall or additional restaurants

8 September, 2025

Gaston Native says:

Gaston County needs more bike lanes throughout the County. I see large groups of people biking around Spencer Mountain and vehicles passing.

Project Overview

As a comprehensive plan, Envision Gaston will consider specific actions that can better align growth and development in the unincorporated areas of the County with local values curated through community conversations. The planning process lets the community...

Work collaboratively to ENVISION an ideal future,

Create a PLAN focused on that future, and

Prepare the County to ACT in the years to come.

A key piece of the plan will be the Future Land Use Map, which will guide future growth and development. A series of framework elements will support the land use strategy. These framework elements will touch on topics such as:

Transportation + Mobility
Economic Development
Housing
Infrastructure + Public Services
Recreation + Trails
Natural Resources + Environmental
Farmland Preservation

Engagement Timeline

Envision Gaston relies on the input from the people of Gaston. This input continues to be collected through meetings, workshops, and online activities. We're glad you're here!

Timeline item 1 - active

Phase 1 | VISION (January - September 2025)
Gather input and analyze data on existing land use, population, services, and other trends to envision the future.
- Advisory Committee Meeting #1
- Advisory Committee Meeting #2
- Stakeholder Meetings Round #1
- Community Workshop Series #1
- Digital Engagement Series #1
Timeline item 2 - incomplete

Phase 2 | PLAN (September 2025 - March 2026)
Create a growth strategy and plan for the future.
- Advisory Committee Meeting #3
- Advisory Committee Meeting #4
- Stakeholder Meetings Round #2
- Community Workshop Series #2
- Community Workshop Series #3
- Digital Engagement Series #2
Timeline item 3 - incomplete

Phase 3 | ACT (March - June 2026)
Draft and finalize the comprehensive plan report.
- Advisory Committee Meeting #5
- Advisory Committee Meeting #6
- Planning Board Meeting
- Board of Commissioners Meeting

Frequently Asked Questions

The key outcome of Envision Gaston will be a future land use strategy to growth and development in Gaston. Policy-based framework elements will be created to support the land use strategy. These framework elements will touch on topics such as:

- Transportation and Mobility

- Economic Development

- Housing

- Infrastructure and Public Services

- Recreation and Trails

- Natural Resources and Environmental

As a comprehensive plan, Envision Gaston will give particular attention to how these topical areas can work in unison to help ensure the plan is well-rounded and effective.

We are asking the community to co-create Envision Gaston! The engagement process focuses on the following:

Identifying participants and developing a strategy. We will determine who needs to be a part of process and create a strategy to engage those voices.

Building awareness and setting expectations. We will bring broad awareness to the planning effort and help people understand what to expect from their involvement.

Inviting genuine participation and gathering input. We will engage the community in authentic and meaningful ways and gain insight into community needs and ideas through a variety of activities.

Being transparent and cultivating understanding. We will ensure keep the community informed and engaged and show them the influence of their participation.

See the Engagement Timeline for a full list of engagement activities.

Envision Gaston considers the unincorporated areas of the County. Attention will be given to this area's relationship to the County's municipalities as well as the surrounding counties of York, Mecklenburg, Lincoln, and Cleveland.

Project Contact

Have a question? Want to learn more about a project? Send us a message.

Contact Information
Email	planning@gastongov.com

Join the Mailing List Below

Contact Information
Phone	704-866-3000
Website	www.gastongov.com
In writing	128 W. Main Ave. Gastonia, NC 28052 Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

704-866-3000

www.gastongov.com

128 W. Main Ave.
Gastonia, NC 28052

Monday through Friday
8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Envision Gaston 2050 Comprehensive Plan

A New Look for Gaston County

Get Involved

Learn More

FAQs

Get Involved

What is your big idea for Gaston County?

Join the Mailing List Below

Contact Us

Envision Gaston 2050 Comprehensive Plan

A New Look for Gaston County

Get Involved

Learn More

FAQs

Get Involved

What is your big idea for Gaston County?

Join the Mailing List Below

Want to stay informed?

Contact Us