Otwell Middle School

• A desire for different kinds of development in Cumming-Forsyth County, including support for “mixed-use” (residential, offices, entertainment and retail close to one another), town-center types of developments and greater connectedness among developments.
• Strong support for environmental protection and green space preservation. There was interest in water conservation (things like using gutter systems for watering lawns), recycling programs and protecting Lake Lanier, but there was also support for preserving undeveloped areas of the county.
• Strong support for maintaining Cumming-Forsyth’s high-quality public schools and family orientation. One of the small groups said its strongest images of Cumming-Forsyth County in the future were of people “living, working, playing as a family, as a community,” and another of “schools that were built for the future.” Another group said it wanted the Forsyth County School System to “continue to be one of the best in the state and country” in 2030.
• A need for greater economic development to preserve the tax base. Several groups mentioned “balancing the tax digest” between residential and commercial land uses as important. One group said it would like to see corporate headquarters in Cumming-Forsyth County in the future. Another said it would like to see the county “develop commercial and industrial areas into campus-type centers and technology parks.”
• An interest in developing the cultural assets of Cumming-Forsyth County. Several groups mentioned the need for a “cultural arts/performing arts center” in the county.