Ed. note: The subject of Our Smokies, Our Future and those who are against the process has been a topic we have reported on for some time. As the story continues to evolve, the Herald felt it would be best to publish a multi-part series in order to provide the community with in-depth coverage.

Gianni Longo Facilitates an Our Smokies, Our Future meeting at Sevier County High School. (THE HERALD/ ARCHIVED PHOTO)

If anybody has been to any of the Our Smokies, Our Future community forums one person that most likely sticks out in their mind is the group’s independently hired facilitator, Gianni Longo.

Longo, a Principal at the New York City based ACP Planning and Visioning, has been a leader in the organization since 1994.

ACP, which stands for American Communities Partnership, is a nationally recognized firm that specializes in addressing many planning challenges, including multi-jurisdictional cooperation, growth, sustainability efficient transportation choices, fiscal impacts of land use, and design character among others.

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