Chamber of Commerce Leads 30-Year Visioning Plan
Christy Smith
07/01/06
Forsyth County residents are asked to brainstorm ideas and build a plan.
Forsyth County residents have a unique opportunity to shape their community’s future.
The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce is spearheading a year-long citizen-guided visioning project that will lead the County through the next 20 to 30 years. The venture, still in its infancy, is directed by officials who plan to fill individual project committees with residents from a mixture of interests and backgrounds, reflecting the County’s changing demographics.
“We don’t have an agenda because we want people to come up with their own ideas,” says Brett Berto, co-chairman of the visioning project. “People sit around and talk to their family and friends and say, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if…?’ That’s what we want to hear.”
With Forsyth County’s natural beauty, easy access to Atlanta and proximity to Lake Lanier and the North Georgia mountains, it is no wonder the inevitable development and expansion within the County has occurred rapidly. According to recent U.S. Census reports, Forsyth County has the fifth fastest-growing population of any county in the nation, having gown from a population of 100,528 in July 2000 to 140,393 in 2005. The Chamber’s comprehensive plan forecasts that Forsyth County’s population will exceed 228,000 by 2025.
Unmanaged, Forsyth County’s growth could prove costly to residents. However, community leaders believe that with correct and early planning, growth can pay for itself and benefit the community.
“We don’t have a strong community consensus on our future direction,” says James McCoy, president and CEO of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce. “We need a plan for growth.”
To that end, the Chamber hired Otis White, a principal of Civic Strategies, to pinpoint Forsyth County’s growth issues, guide the brainstorming process and develop a workable plan of action. Civic Strategies will earn about $200,000 for the entire project—$50,000 of that amount paid by Chamber funds, with private donations making up the rest.
White, who helped Hall County build its recently unveiled community visioning project, says that the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce is scheduling a number of open meetings throughout the fall, and Forsyth County residents are asked to attend and share ideas. The meetings are designed to let everyone have their say.
“Residents will work in small groups and describe the community they most want to live in 25 years from now,” White says. “People know a lot more about the community than they give themselves credit for knowing. An enormous amount of creativity comes out of these groups.” McCoy adds, “We want at least 1,000 people.”
In March, 120 Forsyth County civic leaders participated in a day-long community leadership summit, hosted by the Chamber and Civic Strategies. Local government officials showed up, along with school board members, presidents of homeowners associations and members of local clubs and non-profit organizations.
“We had a very diverse group of people together under one roof,” Berto shares. “We voted nearly unanimously that, yes, we need to start this project.”
Forsyth County has changed from a rural farming community to an above-average-income residential destination. In 2000, farming represented about 2 percent of the county’s employment, down from 14 percent in 1980. As Forsyth County continues to grow, officials and residents must decide how to accommodate future population and business growth, how to generate tax dollars to support the school system, and how to partner with Atlanta regarding environmental, traffic and development issues.
The Civic Strategies study identified a well-paying employment base as one of Forsyth County’s major needs. In 2003, 2 percent of Forsyth County’s tax base was residential, up from 67 percent in 1994. Residential property usually generates less tax revenue than commercial, making it harder to pay for good roads, quality schools clean water, and other benefits.
Throughout the next 12 months, planners’ ideas and visions will evolve into committees that turn. these concepts into working developments. Some residents have already conceptualized Forsyth County’s future, Tom Cromartie, a commercial realtor, wants to grow an economic base while keeping its rural character.
“The County has an interesting combination of different communities and I want to see that maintained as we work to become more economically diversified Cromartie says. “I want to create a robust rowing program to serve our youth. Lake Lather is right at the back door.”
Grant Schmeelk, who sits on the board of Leadership Forsyth, envisions Cumming as a live/work/play city with architectural controls and mast transit. “I see Cumming as a planned mixed-use city center with shops, restaurants, bars, entertainment, parks, housing and condos to keep residents from having to go down Georgia 400 for an evening out.”
All Forsyth County residents are invited to participate in the community visioning project. Plan to play a part in the process of how your county develops. Let your voice be heard! | | Related Link
www.forsythliving.org
Forsyth Living Magazine |
