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THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010
Workshop held to plan for Nicholson’s future
PLANNING FOR NICHOLSON’S FUTURE
Approximately 20 people turned out Thursday evening for the City of Nicholson’s
community planning workshop. Here (L to R) Lin Ring, Stan Ring and Jimmy Ford
look over the maps and review the character area descriptions included in the city’s
comprehensive plan. Photo by Sharon Hogan
BY SHARON HOGAN
A GROUP of approximately
20 people turned out Thursday
night to give input on planning
for the future of the City of
Nicholson.
The city held a community
planning workshop to solicit
input on the city’s comprehen
sive plan.
Those in attendance were
divided into small groups and
each group was asked to con
sider Nicholson’s character area
descriptions and make com
ments.
The concensus of the group
was to guard the agricultural land
and increase the lot sizes in this
area.
The group was in agreement
that Jackson County’s East
Jackson Park complex located in
the City of Nicholson is a good
asset for the city.
A discussion was held on the
town center character area and
what is envisioned for this area.
The description of this area
that is included in the compre
hensive plan states this area cor
responds with the central part of
Nicholson along Highway 441,
but also including Broad Street
which parallels Highway 441.
This is the preliminary bound
ary within which Nicholson
should plan for a concentration
of commercial uses, including
retail and services. Once bound
aries are defined within this area
and agreed to, Nicholson will
define a central place, which may
be called a downtown or a town
center.
Particular attention will be
paid to keeping the scale of
the town center consistent with
the low density of the city,
and all new development will
be pedestrian friendly. Special
guidelines for scale, architec
ture and site design will be
needed to properly implement
the vision for the town center.
Most of the group agreed that
this area should be centered
around the current city hall,
community center and post
office area. The vision of most
of those in attendance is to
see two-story buildings along
Broad Street for business use in
the downstairs area and condo
miniums/apartments upstairs.
Most of those in attendance
recommended brick fronts
with the brick matching that
of the community center.
Along this town center area
would be sidewalks, street
lighting and maybe some
benches.
Consultant Jerry Weitz gave
a presentation and showcased
some other small towns around
the area to show what they
have done to define their town
center/downtown areas.
Nicholson resident David
Wilbanks said. “Putting in
sidewalks will take up people’s
property and they are not going
to like this.”
Wilbanks also voiced his
concern with the amount of
land designated for agriculture
on the land use map. “Very
little property is designated for
farming,” Wilbanks said.
Wilbanks went on to say,
“We don’t need growth. Growth
brings violence.”
Jan Webster, Nicholson
resident, said, “We can’t stop
growth, but now is the time
for us to plan for the growth
that is coming.” We are looking
ahead 10-20 years, this is not
something we are going to do
tomorrow or even next month,
Webster added.
The group discussed issues
and opportunities in Nicholson
that are also included in the
comprehensive plan.
One big issue is the lack of
a sewer system in the City of
Nicholson. Many felt this is
needed in order to attract busi
nesses.
One idea to help with this
problem was to share sewer
service with either Jefferson
and/or Commerce. This could
be formalized with an intergov
ernmental agreement. Weitz
said, “Installing a sewer system
would be very costly to the
city.”
“To fund sewer for the city
the city could charge a property
tax to jump start this project,”
Weitz said.
OTHER ISSUES
•The group discussed the
Pace Drive neighborhood that
has been targeted as an area
requiring improvement, due to
deteriorating housing condi
tions. At issue on Pace Drive
is the fact that the city doesn’t
own the road. Included in the
comprehensive plan opportu
nities is the recommendation
that Nicholson should seek
community development block
grant funds to help improve the
housing, road and community
conditions in this neighbor
hood.
•In transportation a regional
bike loop is recommended. The
bike route would run along the
Eastern Jackson Scenic Byway,
designated as a scenic route
by Jackson County in 2010,
which follows State Route 334.
The bikers could complete a
marathon-length journey from
Nicholson to Commerce and
back again. Wilbanks said,
“Bikes tie up traffic. If you
have a big bike ride you’ve got
to have county ambulances and
county sheriff’s patrol.”
Nicholson Water Authority installs almost 500 meters
BY BRANDON REED
THE NICHOLSON Water Authority has
installed almost 500 radio water meters that
have been purchased for the system so far. In
the May monthly meeting, the authority was
informed that all but about 35 of the initial
500 meters purchased have been installed.
The authority was also informed that users
have been billed once using the new meters
and so far, there have not been any prob
lems.
Under old business, the authority mem
bers also discussed that for an additional
$150 per year, the authority can get a one
million dollar limit for workers compensa
tion insurance. This was found after author
ity members voted to accept a policy quote
of $2,409 per year, but asked staff to find out
what the cost was with higher limits. After
getting phone approval from each board
member individually on April 8, staff moved
forward with purchasing the policy at the
one million dollar limit.
The authority members also learned that a
scheduled meeting with the Nicholson City
Council to discuss new SPLOST projects has
been postponed due to mayoral and council
conflicts. The authority was informed that
city officials would let them know when a
meeting can be scheduled.
Sidewalks to be put in near schools
Jefferson receives $499,680 state grant
BYANGELA GARY
Rec. department seeks
input, plans meetings
JACKSON COUNTY Parks &
Recreation is seeking public input on the
development of a master plan.
To take the survey, go to www.jackson-
countygov.com.
Topics covered include facilities, pro
grams and future growth.
Two meetings are also planned on these
issues. The schedule is as follows:
•7 p.m., Tuesday, June 1, Gum Springs
Elementary School cafeteria.
•7 p.m., Thursday, June 3, East Jackson
Comprehensive High School cafeteria.
THE CITY OF Jefferson has been
awarded the largest “Safe Route To
Schools Grant” in the state at $499,680.
This partnership with the Jefferson
School System will result in the addition
of sidewalks being installed along Old
Pendergrass Road from the Jefferson
Public Library to the Fountainhead
Subdivision.
Jeff Killip, Jefferson public works
director, identified this opportunity and
completed the DOT application.
“He should be commended for his
hard work on this project,” Jefferson
city manager John Ward said. “Jefferson
continues to provide quality community
improvements because of the efforts of
our exceptional city staff. These grant
funds are also reflective of the City of
Jefferson’s aggressive policy to seek out
and apply department by department for
federal grant money in order to bring
federal tax dollars back to the local com
munity to be use for projects such as
this.”
Citizens air concerns on
SJ commercial proposal
Comprehensive plan moves forward
BY ANGELA GARY
TWO RESIDENTS of the
South Jackson area are con
cerned about the proposed
commercial designation of
property in their area.
The Jackson County Board
of Commissioners held a
public hearing Monday night
on the proposed update to the
county’s comprehensive plan.
The BOC unanimously agreed
to forward the draft of the
plan to the Northeast Georgia
Regional Commission for
review and comment. After
that, the plan will be sent to
the Georgia Department of
Community Affairs for final
review.
At the BOC meeting
Monday night, two members
of the committee that provid
ed input on the update spoke
on the plan, as well as the two
South Jackson residents.
“I’m still concerned about
10 miles of commercial prop
erty in our farming commu
nity in Jackson County,” said
Celinda Wilson, who lives on
Crooked Creek Road. “I’m
concerned about how this
much commercial develop
ment would impact that.”
She added that traffic is
already congested in the area
in the mornings and that com
mercial development would
only add more vehicles on
the road.
Dr. Bruce Hollett, who lives
on Wit’s End, off of Hwy.
129 in South Jackson, also
spoke on his concerns about
the commercial designation
in the plan.
“My concern is about traf
fic, run off and sewerage and
water sources,” he said.
He also spoke on the pos
sibility of more residential
development in the South
Jackson area.
“If you go toward Braselton
and Hoschton, you can see
what high density develop
ment is,” he said.
A 26-member steering
committee met numerous
times over the past 16 months
working on the update. Two
members of that commit
tee, Darrell Buffenstein and
Angeline Scarborough, spoke
on the proposal.
“I was amazed at the enor
mity of the project, just how
big it was and how much
work was to be done,” said
Buffenstein, who lives on
Jefferson River Road, South
Jackson. “It (the plan) is a
perfect compromise. A better
word is a balance. This plan
is a great balance of what
Jackson County would like
to see.”
He added that the plan bal
ances “growth and maintain
ing the quality of life in the
county.”
Scarborough, who lives
on Chandler Bridge Road in
Center, said, “I an pleased
with the character maps. I
am glad that we are adding
that layer as we make zoning
decisions. I think it will help
strengthen our plan.”
She added that she is also
pleased with the proposal to
allow smaller lots for families
divisions.
“The overriding concern is
to keep the rural character of
our county and really control
the developments,” she said.
Scarborough added that the
last time the plan was updat
ed, the county made plans
immediately.
“Before the ink dried, we
were making changes,” she
said. “This time, I hope we
really adhere to what we have
done.”
BOC chairman Hunter
Bicknell said, “A large num
ber of citizens spent countless
hours giving input and direc
tion. We do appreciate all of
the citizens who were on the
steering committee.”
GBI continues Pendergrass
investigation into next month
THE GEORGIA Bureau of
Investigation is continuing its
probe of reports of wrong-doing
by city officials in Pendergrass
and officials expect it to be
wrapped up within the next
month.
“We are still looking at records
and waiting on records,” said
GBI director Jim Fullington. “It
is moving forward.”
The investigation stems
from allegations three former
employees made against city
officials, including misuse of
city funds.
Former Maysville council member
McNeely sentenced on drug charge
FORMER Maysville council member Rebecca McNeely
was sentenced in recent Superior Court proceedings in Jackson
County.
McNeely was given a $1,000 fine and eight years probation
on charges of sale of hydrocodone. She was also ordered to
attend drug and alcohol counseling, if necessary.
County furlough day ahead
THE JACKSON County government offices and courthouse
will be closed on Friday, May 28, due to a furlough day.
▼
RELAY
FOR LIFE
On Friday evening, June 4, 2010 the Opening Ceremonies for this year’s American
Cancer Society RELAY FOR LIFE presented by Wayne and Heather Abbs,
Wayne-Neal Chevrolet will begin at East Jackson County High School. There will be
Luminaries to line the track area. The Luminaries will be lit in memory and honor of
loved ones and friends who have had cancer. The Lighting Ceremony will begin at
9:30 p.m., and everyone is invited to attend.
We want to give everyone an opportunity to pay tribute to their loved ones and friends AND help fight
this disease that claims so many lives.
You do not need to be an actual participant in this Celebration to take part in this tribute. With your
donation the individuals you designate will be written on the luminary to be lit on Friday evening.
If you would like to participate in our candle lighting, clip and send in the form below. The sooner we
stop this disease, the more lives we can save.
Thank You.
Please light a candle in memory or in honor of my loved one/friend. I understand that the proceeds will
go to benefit the American Cancer Society. Please print legibly the following information:
In Memory
In Honor
From: (Your name and address)
Amount enclosed ($5 minimum per luminary) Number of Luminaries
Please make check payable to the American Cancer Society and mail or give to:
Gail & Larry Banks Luminary Service sponsored
1347 Lewis Roberts Rd. by Jackson EMC
Jefferson, GA 30549
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