Pigeon Forge Seeks Public Input for 2050 Development Plan

City officials invite community to share ideas for improving infrastructure, housing, and economic growth over the next 25 years.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:06pm

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The city of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is launching a comprehensive planning process to chart the next quarter century of development. City officials have partnered with a consulting firm to gather public input on challenges and priorities related to infrastructure, traffic, housing, and economic growth. The goal is to have a 2050 plan completed by the end of this year to address the strain on the city's resources from a population of 6,500 residents and 15 million annual visitors.

Why it matters

As a popular tourist destination, Pigeon Forge has experienced rapid growth that has put a significant strain on the city's infrastructure and housing. By proactively planning for the next 25 years, the city aims to get ahead of these challenges and ensure sustainable development that balances the needs of residents and visitors.

The details

Pigeon Forge's Community Development Director David Taylor said the city is seeking ideas, concerns, and priorities from the public to inform the 2050 plan. Key issues to address include traffic congestion, the need for affordable workforce housing, and maintaining the city's economic vitality as a tourism hub. Local business owner Katherine Mitchell noted the roads and pavement are struggling to keep up with increased traffic, while also highlighting the lack of affordable housing options for residents.

  • The public input meeting was held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
  • Pigeon Forge officials hope to have the 2050 plan completed by the end of this year.

The players

David Taylor

Pigeon Forge's Community Development Director, leading the city's comprehensive planning process.

Katherine Mitchell

A local business owner in Pigeon Forge who shared concerns about the city's infrastructure and housing challenges.

TSW

A consulting company partnering with Pigeon Forge to develop the 2050 plan.

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What they’re saying

“What we're doing is looking for ideas, looking for concerns, challenges, anything that people deem important for the next 25 years in Pigeon Forge.”

— David Taylor, Pigeon Forge Community Development Director

“There's so many houses going in, the roads are getting tore up, you can see where they've repaved over the last couple of years, and now there's already ruts in the pavement. There's just so much traffic that's traveling down these roads now, and the roads aren't wide enough, and it's very difficult.”

— Katherine Mitchell, Local business owner

What’s next

Pigeon Forge officials plan to review the public input gathered at the meeting and use it to inform the development of the comprehensive 2050 plan, which they hope to have completed by the end of this year.

The takeaway

Pigeon Forge's proactive approach to long-term planning demonstrates the city's commitment to balancing the needs of its growing tourism industry with the quality of life for its residents. By engaging the community and taking a holistic view of infrastructure, housing, and economic development, Pigeon Forge aims to chart a sustainable path forward for the next quarter century.