KINGSPORT – The City of Kingsport is pleased to announce that Lynn Tully has accepted the position of Planning & Community Development Director, filling the position left vacant when Alan Webb retired earlier this year after 27 years of service. She assumes the position on August 1.
With nearly 16 years’ experience – 11 in Atlanta’s rapidly growing North Metro – Tully brings a diverse background that will help shape Kingsport’s future growth.
“Lynn brings a track record of success in managing planning programs in a variety of growth scenarios,” said City Manager John Campbell. “She has experience in every demographic situation from developing rural communities to booming suburbs. And critically, Lynn recognizes that the citizens of Kingsport expect future development to be managed by balanced, but not overly cumbersome, regulation.”
Tully will be responsible for directing Kingsport’s strategies regarding planning, zoning, annexation, as well as community development and redevelopment.
“Kingsport is well known for its legacy in planning and its relationship to renowned planner John Nolen. Students across the country study this city,” said Tully. “It’s a tremendous professional opportunity.”
Tully is very familiar with the City of Kingsport, working her way through the planning ranks from planner to senior planner to principal planner at the city while her husband was pursuing his graduate degree at Emmanuel School of Religion.
“I loved my time in Kingsport. It is rewarding to come back and see the amazing transformation that has occurred in the last ten years,” Tully said. “And I very much look forward to helping continue that success.”
“It’s readily apparent that Kingsport is an engaged community and ultimately it’s up to the community – represented by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Planning Commission – to decide what our direction should be. I stand ready to listen to that direction, and in conjunction with Kingsport’s excellent planning staff, craft the policies critical to Kingsport’s continued success.”
Tully is a certified professional planner, recognized by the American Institute of Certified Planners, with additional education emphasis on leadership and economic development. She currently serves as director for District 2 of the Georgia Chapter of the American Planning Association. Tully holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s in city planning from Georgia Tech. Lynn is married, and she and her husband have 3 school age children.
Tully was selected from a pool of 17 candidates hailing from 12 states.
“She’s a great fit for our organization,” said Jeff Fleming, Assistant City Manager for Development. “She understands Kingsport, has all of the professional credentials, and brings invaluable outside experience. She believes in the concept of pragmatic idealism – recognizing the ideal, but determining what’s practical for the local community. Kingsport is a very special place. It is large enough to have amenities normally reserved for larger communities, but small enough not to have negative issues like high crime and traffic. We have an awesome responsibility to continue to shape this community for future generations and Lynn and our current staff are poised to do just that.”
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