Newspaper Page Text
Serving Braselton, Hoschton, Chateau Elan, Traditions, Reunion, Deaton Creek and West Jackson $1.00 copy
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Vol. 16 No. 41 A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. www.BraseltonNewsTODAY.com 12 pages
Big games ahead
The Jackson County softball, team gears up for a critical portion of
its regular season schedule
PAGE7A
Passing Panthers
The Jackson County football team hopes to build on strides made
in its passing game last week
PAGE7A
Jackson Co.
County
BOC sets tax
rates, budget
By Mike Buffington
mike@mainstreetnews. com
A major expansion of
the Jackson County gov
ernment’s financial foot
print is on tap next year
following action by the
Jackson County Board
of Commissioners.
The BOC set its mill-
age rate and 2024 bud
get on Sept. 18. The
budget shows some key
growth in revenues and
expenses.
The board set a mill-
age rate of 7.748 mills in
incorporated areas of the
county and 6.171 mills
for unincorporated ar
eas. Both rates are lower
than last year and are the
full “rollback rates” to
offset last year’s higher
property assessments.
The incorporated rate
fell by 1.39 mills and
unincorporated dropped
by 1.629 mills (the dif
ference in incorporated
and unincorporated is
due to how insurance
premium taxes are han
dled differently in the
two areas.)
In theory, proper
ty owners should pay
about the same coun
ty-levied property taxes
this year as they did last
year if their assessment
went up around 25% or
less. Property values
that went up over 30%
See BOC, page 3A
South Hall
Hall BOC approves
South Hall com maze,
pumpkin patch
By Ben Munro The Hall County Board
ben@mainstreetnews.com 0 f Commissioners (BOC)
Plans for a com maze and on Thursday (Sept. 14)
pumpkin patch in South Hall unanimously approved an
can proceed following final agri-entertainment use with
approval from Hall County
leaders See A PP roval >P a S e 1 2d
INSIDE
See the fall
edition of
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TODAY
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week’s
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MAILING LABEL
Hoschton
raUrr
Photo by Ben Munro
Residential development issues drew a packed house to the Hoschton City Council’s Sept.
14 work session.
Major developments
Large Hoschton
development on Hwy. 53
approved unanimously
By Ben Munro
ben@mainstreetnews. com
A 1,000-plus home development that was largely op
posed by residents at public hearings and prompted an
arbitration hearing with Jackson County received the
green light from Hoschton leaders.
The Hoschton City Council voted 4-0 Monday (Sept.
18) to approve an annexation and planned unit devel
opment rezoning for Rocklyn Homes for 287 acres
zoned agricultural on Hwy. 53 on the south side of
town near the large Twin Lakes subdivision.
The project will include 651 single-family homes,
404 townhomes and 24 acres of civic space.
Groans were heard from those attending Monday’s
meeting after the council passed the annexation and
rezoning. The project had drawn considerable push-
back from residents during two packed public hearings
earlier this year. Those who spoke against the proj
ect feared the impact of the large development on the
city’s infrastructure — particularly water and sewer
— and on local law enforcement, schools, police, fire
service and traffic.
Rocklyn representatives during public hearings said
that they are in negotiations with Jackson County
school leaders to sell the school system property at a
below-market price for a future school site.
See Hoschton, page 12A
Vote on
another large
development in
Hoschton tabled
By Ben Munro
ben@mainstreetnews. com
Another large-scale development is pro
posed for Hoschton. but an answer from the
city council is on hold for at least a month
City leaders on Monday (Sept. 18) tabled
their vote on a rezoning request for 55 acres
on Nancy Industrial Dr. and Amy Industrial
Lane from light industrial to a planned unit
development. The matter will come before
the council again at its October voting ses
sion
The rezoning would allow for a mixed-
unit development of 712 residences (360
apartments and 352 townhomes) and 63,000
square feet of retail, restaurant, office and
civic space. Amenities include a poof green-
space and pickleball courts. Five acres would
be donated to the city.
Charles Ross, who spoke on behalf of ap
plicant G.R’s Enterprises, said the applicant
was approached to build a track terminal, al
lowed by right on the property, but switched
those plans after being asked “by some of the
See Development, page 12A
o
Braselton
Recent analysis highlights Braselton
population and demographic trends
By Ben Munro
ben@mainstreetnews.com
A recent analysis revealed
notable trends from Bra-
selton’s population and de
mographics compared to the
four-county area (Jackson
County, Hall County, Barrow
County and Gwinnett Coun
ty) in which the town’s mu
nicipal limits reach.
According to a study from
Mark Kooyman, the CEO of
a brand-growth firm, Experi
ence, who once ran Cartoon
Network, the town stands as
more college educated and
affluent with higher-priced
housing than many of the
neighboring populations.
Kooyman presented the
statistics Sept. 7 at the Bra
selton Town Council’s work
session. The analysis originat
ed as a county-based presen
tation to the Jackson County
Chamber of Commerce in
June and more recently to lo
cal leaders.
Here are the highlights of
See Study, page 12A
—ir
A recent data analysis compared Braselton’s
population and demographic trends against the
town’s four-county region.
o
