The Bureau of Statistics and Plans has released a public draft of the Guåhan 2050 Sustainability Plan and scheduled public hearings to gather community input on the long-term development roadmap.
Mandated by Public Law 35-110, the plan updates Guam’s Comprehensive Development Plan and outlines a 25-year strategy aimed at meeting present needs while preserving resources for future generations.
The draft plan is guided by five sustainability principles — limits, balance, renewal, equity and engagement — and focuses on five thematic goals: sustainable communities, a prosperous economy, a thriving environment, a vibrant culture and village sustainability.
According to BSP, the plan addresses 20 elements required by law through an integrated land-use framework. These include establishing an urban-rural boundary to concentrate development where infrastructure exists, prioritizing affordable housing and urban redevelopment, protecting environmentally sensitive areas, safeguarding CHamoru cultural heritage and incorporating hazard and climate data to guide safer development.
The plan was developed through community engagement efforts that included an islandwide survey of more than 700 residents, focus groups and interviews with village mayors and agency officials.
“The Guåhan 2050 Sustainability Plan is more than a document; it is a living commitment to our island,” said BSP Director Lola E. Leon Guerrero. She said the plan aims to move Guam toward a more coordinated and proactive approach to land-use decision-making.
If adopted, implementation would be coordinated by BSP with support from a Sustainability Plan Implementation Task Force, with actions phased through 2050.
Public hearings are scheduled for Feb. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hågat Mayor’s Office and Feb. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dededo Mayor’s Office. Both hearings will include virtual participation options.
Written comments will be accepted through March 11 at 5 p.m.