Microsoft Word - Catoosa Comprehensive Plan Update 2007-2027

Joint City-County

Comprehensive Plan Update 2007-2027

Partial Plan Update

For Catoosa County and the Cities of Fort

Oglethorpe and Ringgold

October 2007

Prepared by the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center

For More Information on this Plan Update, Contact:

Catoosa County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bill Clark

City of Fort Oglethorpe City Manager Ronald C. Goulart

City of Ringgold City Manager Dan Wright

To obtain a copy of this plan update, contact:

Coosa Valley Regional Development Center

P.O. Box 1798

Rome, GA 31062-1798

(706) 295-6485

Table of Contents

Introduction & Methodology …….……………………………………… 4

Narrative for Catoosa County

Quality Community Objectives Assessment ……………………….. 6

Areas Requiring Special Attention Evaluation and Map…………… 14

Issues and Opportunities ……………………………………………… 18

Short Term Work Program ...………………………………………….. 24

Report of Accomplishments …………………………………….…….. 30

Narrative for City of Fort Oglethorpe

Quality Community Objectives Assessment ………………………… 34

Areas Requiring Special Attention and Character Area

Identification / Map……….....………………………………………….. 41

Issues and Opportunities ………………………………………………. 53

Short Term Work Program …………………………………………….. 61

Report of Accomplishments ……………………………………………. 72

Narrative for City of Ringgold

Quality Community Objectives Assessment ………………………… 81

Areas Requiring Special Attention Evaluation……………………….. 85

Areas Requiring Special Attention Map ………………………………. 91

Issues and Opportunities ………………………………………………. 92

Short Term Work Program …………………………………………….. 112

Report of Accomplishments ……………………………………………. 118

Appendix A

Introduction

The State of Georgia requires that local governments update their

comprehensive plan to maintain Qualified Local Government Status. Current

Department of Community Affairs requirements call for a partial update, the

Community Agenda, to be submitted by the recertification date. To that end, the

local governments of Catoosa County and the cities of Fort Oglethorpe and

Ringgold worked with the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center to identify

stakeholders, gather community input, and complete the requirements of the

partial update.

Methodology

Stakeholder Involvement

The joint comprehensive plan update process allows for stakeholder input

and community participation. Stakeholders for Catoosa County and the cities of

Fort Oglethorpe and Ringgold were identified. Local government officials and

staff worked to identify issues and opportunities, and assess quality community

objectives. Each local government was asked for a list of stakeholders to include

in the planning process.

They included but were not limited to members of city councils and county

commissions, city and county staff, development authority members, chambers

of c

ommerce, media, community members, churches and religious organizations,

housing authority directors, librari

es, civic organizations, county and city planning

commissions, civic and garden clubs, E-911 and emergency personnel, and any

other interested parties.

All stakeholders received invitations to the planning meetings, the short-

term work program workshops, and public hearings. Public hearings were

advertised to the community at large in accordance with requirements.

Gathering community input through a Visioning Survey

The local governments of Fort Oglethorpe and Ringgold invited the public

to share growth concerns using a survey advertised in local newspapers,

distributed to stakeholders, made available to the public at city halls, county

government buildings, public works offices, libraries, planning offices, technical

colleges, chambers of commerce, nutrition centers, housing authorities, and on

request from the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center.

Survey questions included location of home and work, reason for living in

the community, what was liked and disliked about the community, overall

perception of the community and region, perception of growth and changes,

perception of services provided, a ranking of growth management concerns, and

perceptions of growth management actions.

CATOOSA COUNTY

Catoosa County - Quality Community Objectives Assessment

In 1999 the board of the Department of Community Affairs adopted the Quality

Community Objectives (QCO’s) as a statement of the development patterns and

options that will help Georgia preserve its unique cultural, natural and historic

resources while looking to the future and developing to its fullest potential. The

Assessment is meant to give the community an idea of how it is progressing with

respect to these objectives. The assessment is a tool for use at the beginning of

the comprehensive planning process where the community is asked to examine

a series of yes/no statements regarding local ordinances, policies, and

organizational strategies intended to create and expand quality growth principles.

Below is a summary of the results of the Quality Community Objectives

Assessment.

Development Patterns

Traditional neighborhoods

Traditional neighborhood development patterns should be encouraged; including

use of more human scale development, compact development, mixing of uses

within easy walking distance of one another, and facilitating pedestrian activity.

 Currently, children do not bike to school

 Schools are not necessarily located in or near neighborhoods in our

community.

The unincorporated areas of the County are growing yet there remains

much space between areas to the extent that walking or biking do not

appear to be appropriate transportation alternatives in terms of comfort or

safety. The County has been urbanizing very quickly and is dominated by

automobile travel. Road improvements are planned to reduce congestion

but will probably not address walkability factors. We would rely on the

more compact areas within the municipalities (Cities of Fort Oglethorpe

and Ringgold) for walking and biking opportunities.

 We currently do not have a street tree ordinance requiring new

development to plant shade-bearing trees appropriate to our climate.

The County will consider drafting a tree replacement ordinance.

Development Patterns (cont.)

Infill development:

Communities should maximize the use of existing infrastructure and minimize

the conversion of undeveloped land at the urban periphery by encouraging

development or redevelopment of sites closer to the downtown or traditional

urban core of the community.

 Some areas of the community are planned for nodal development, i.e.

compacted near intersections, although much development occurs

along our major roads.

Sense of Place:

Traditional downtown areas should be maintained as the focal point of the

community or, for newer areas where this is not possible, the development of

activity centers that serve as community focal points should be encouraged.

These community focal points should be attractive, mixed-use, pedestrian-

friendly places where people choose to gather for shopping, dining, socializing,

and entertainment.

 If someone dropped from the sky into our community, he or she would

know immediately where he or she was, based on our distinct

characteristics.

 We have delineated the areas of our community that are important to

our history and heritage. While not currently mapped, the community

knows where these areas are. Many of those areas and properties are

privately owned. Those owners have not been motivated to sell,

thereby limiting the community’s ability to preserve them. The County

would like to work towards a right of first refusal as historic properties

come up for sale.

Our Historic Preservation Commission has been newly created and will

assume the task of continuing to explore locations for placement on the

National Register of Historic Places.

 We have no façade restrictions or ordinances to regulate the

aesthetics of development in our highly visible areas.

The County will be working on several ordinances to address the

aesthetics of development through ridgeline development ordinances and

conservation subdivision ordinances. There are a lot of ideas being

discussed.

 We have ordinances to regulate the size and type of signage in our

community, though the billboard ordinance could be strengthened.

 We do not offer a development guidebook that illustrates the type of

new development we want in our community.

Development Patterns (cont.)

The 20/20 Committee will work with the County on a guidebook that will

include subdivision regulations.

Transportation Alternatives:

Alternatives to transportation by automobile, including mass transit, bicycle

routes, and pedestrian facilities, should be made available in each community.

Greater use of alternate transportation should be encouraged.

 We have limited options for alternatives to automobile transportation in

our community. Currently projects involving bike routes are not

deemed a priority in Catoosa County, though we would like to see

user-friendly sidewalks required of new development.

Regional identity:

Each region should promote and preserve a regional “identity”, or regional sense

of place, defined in terms of traditional architecture, common economic linkages

that bind the region together, or other shared characteristics.

 Our community does not necessarily encourage businesses that create

products that draw on our regional heritage (mountain, agricultural,

metropolitan, coastal, etc.)

 Our community has begun to promote tourism opportunities based on

the unique characteristics of our region.

The community has identified many opportunities for tourism including

increased focus on the Chattanooga and Chickamauga Military Park. The

year 2010 will feature an anniversary of the Civil War and provide many

opportunities. A driving tour is being developed for the County complete

with brochure identifying areas of interest such as Barnhart Circle,

Cherokee Springs, The Old Stone Church, and T.C. Napiers’ Country

Store as well as others.

 Our community contributes to the region, and draws from the region,

as a source of local culture, commerce, entertainment and education.

Resource Conservation

Heritage preservation :

The traditional character of the community should be maintained through

preserving and revitalizing historic areas of the community, encouraging new

development that is compatible with the traditional features of the community,

and protecting other scenic or natural features that are important to defining the

community’s character

 Our Historical Society has been relatively inactive in our concentration

on new development. Discussion of suitable locations for a Museum

showcasing the County’s history would enhance heritage preservation

as well as tourism potential.

 We lack ordinances to ensure that new development will complement

our historic development.

 We need ordinances to protect “The Gap”

Open space preservation:

New development should be designed to minimize the amount of land

consumed, and open space should be set aside from development for use as

public parks or as greenbelts/wildlife corridors. Compact development

ordinances are one way of encouraging this type of open space preservation.

 Catoosa County is developing conservation subdivision ordinances,

considering setting a minimum of twelve houses and encouraging

protection for natural amenities within the development, i.e. setting

aside a certain percentage of greenspace.

 A pre-submittal process is being discussed to facilitate communication

between developers and the County around the implementation of

conservation subdivision ordinances.

Environmental protection:

Environmentally sensitive areas should be protected from negative impacts of

development, particularly when they are important for maintaining traditional

character or quality of life of the community or region. Whenever possible, the

natural terrain, drainage, and vegetation of an area should be preserved.

 Our community has a comprehensive natural resources inventory

including wetlands, groundwater recharge zones, water resources, and

areas of high, medium, or low sensitivity to development pressures.

These areas are mapped and provide guidance to the County Health

Department in issuing of permits for septic tank siting and permitting.

Resource Conservation (cont.)

Environmental Protection:

 We use this resource inventory to steer development away from

environmentally sensitive areas

 Our community has passed the necessary Part V environmental

ordinances and we enforce them.

 Our community will be drafting tree preservation and tree-replanting

ordinances to apply to new development.

 We are using stormwater best management practices for all new

development.

 We have land use measures that will protect the natural resources in

our community.

Social and Economic Development

Growth Preparedness:

Each community should identify and put in place the pre-requisites for the type of

growth it seeks to achieve. These might include infrastructure (roads, water,

sewer) to support new growth, appropriate training of the workforce, ordinances

and regulations to manage growth as desired, or leadership capable responding

to growth opportunities and managing new growth when it occurs.

 We have population projections for the next 20 years that we refer to

when making infrastructure decisions.

The impact fee study conducted in 2005 guides our capital improvements

 Our local governments, the local school board, and other decision-

making entities use the same population projections.

 Commissioners understand the land-development process in our

community.

 We periodically review our development regulations and/or zoning

code, and believe that our ordinances, with minor modifications will

help us achieve our QCO goals.

 We have a Capital Improvements Program that supports current and

future growth.

 We have designated areas of our community where we would like to

see growth, however the Comprehensive Land Use Map is not based

on natural resource factors.

 We have clearly understandable guidelines for new development.

Social and Economic Development (cont.)

 We have a citizen-education campaign through the Kiwanis Club,

Chamber of Commerce and other entities allowing all interested parties

to learn about development processes in our community.

 We have procedures in place that make it easy for the public to stay

informed about land use issues, zoning decisions, and proposed new

development. Information is posted at government buildings and

advertised in the local newspaper.

 We do have a public-awareness element in our comprehensive

planning process.

Appropriate businesses :

The businesses and industries encouraged to develop or expand in a community

should be suitable for the community in terms of job skills required, long-term

sustainability, linkages to other economic activities in the region, impact on the

resources of the area, and future prospects for expansion and creation of higher-

skilled job opportunities.

 Our economic development organization has considered our

community’s strengths, assets and weaknesses, and has created a

business development strategy based on them.

Data suggests that 80% of growth in local economies will involve existing

industry.

 We do not currently have a comprehensive plan to recruit compatible

business or industry.

 We have a diverse jobs base, so that one employer leaving would not

cripple our economy.

Employment options:

A range of job types should be provided in each community to meet the diverse

needs of the local workforce.

 Our economic development program does have an entrepreneur

support program through organizations such as the Northwest Georgia

Joint Development Authority (NWGJDA).

The County has been designated as “entrepreneur friendly” by the

Georgia Department of Economic Development.

 Our community has jobs for skilled labor

 Our community has jobs for unskilled labor.

 Our community does have professional and managerial jobs.

Social and Economic Development (cont.)

Housing choices:

A range of housing size, cost, and density should be provided in each

community to make it possible for all who work in the community to also live in

the community (thereby reducing commuting distances), to promote a mixture of

income and age groups in each community, and to provide a range of housing

choice to meet market needs.

 Our community allows accessory units like garage apartments or

mother-in-law units.

 People who work in our community can also afford to live in the

community.

 Our community has enough housing for each income level (low,

moderate and above-average)

 We encourage new residential development to follow the pattern of our

original town, continuing the existing street design and maintaining

small setbacks.

 Our community does not currently have options available for loft living,

downtown living, or “neo-traditional” development. These options are

perhaps more appropriate in the urbanized area within city limits where

there is greater density.

 We have vacant and developable land for multifamily housing.

 We want to discourage the development of multifamily housing in our

community.

 We no longer have housing being built for lower-income households.

Our community is slightly more affluent than surrounding communities

so there is very little demand. Similarly the case with housing

programs for households with special needs.

 We do not allow small houses to be built on small lots (less than 5,000

square feet) in any areas.

Educational Opportunities:

Educational and training opportunities should be readily available in each

community – to permit community residents to improve their job skills, adapt to

technological advances, or to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions.

 Our community provides workforce training options for its citizens

through our Learning Center and Northwestern Technical College.

 Our workforce training programs provide citizens with skills for jobs

that are available in our community. The Learning Center provides

these opportunities as well as training at the hospitals.

 Our community has higher education opportunities close by through

Dalton State College and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Social and Economic Development (cont.)

Educational Opportunities:

 Our community has many job opportunities for college graduates

throughout the Tri-State area (Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee), so

that our children may live and work here if they choose.

Governmental Relations

Regional Solutions:

Regional solutions to needs shared by more than one local jurisdiction are

preferable to separate local approaches, particularly where this will result in

greater efficiency and less cost to the taxpayer.

 We participate in regional economic development organizations,

Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority (NWGJDA),

Chattanooga-Hamilton County North Georgia Area Transportation

Planning District (CHCNGA).

 We participate in regional environmental organizations and initiatives,

especially regarding water quality and quantity issues.

 We work with other local governments to provide or share appropriate

services, such as public transit, libraries, special education, tourism,

parks and recreation, emergency response, E-911, homeland security,

etc.

 Our community thinks regionally, especially in terms of issues like land

use, transportation and housing, understanding that these go beyond

local government borders.

Regional Cooperation:

Regional cooperation should be encouraged in setting priorities, identifying

shared needs, and finding collaborative solutions, particularly where it is critical

to success of a venture, such as protection of shared natural resources or

development of a transportation network.

 We plan jointly with our cities and county for comprehensive planning

purposes.

 The Service Delivery Strategy is continually evaluated.

 We initiate contact with other local governments and institutions in our

region in order to find solutions to common problems, or to craft

regionwide strategies.

 We meet regularly with neighboring jurisdictions to maintain contact,

build connections, and discuss issues of regional concern.

Catoosa County / Areas Requiring Special Attention

Severe slopes

Development on steep slopes accelerates water runoff and provokes subsequent

erosion in the watershed, leading ultimately to challenges to water quality.

Development of brow areas affects the viewshed, a major natural resource

contributing to quality of life in the County. Viewsheds will be protected using

such tools as conservation easements, greenspace minimum requirements in

regulations, etc. Steep slopes will be protected from erosion with stricter

enforcement of erosion and sedimentation regulations and stormwater

regulations. The County is engaged in discussion of specifics regarding

ordinances to help with brow protection. County-wide sign regulations to be

coordinated with zoning districts and based on traffic speed, volume, and type of

road will help protect mountain scenery.

Steep slopes in the County extend north and south along White Oak Mountain,

east of the City of Ringgold and Taylor’s Ridge to the south in the Chattahoochee

National Forest. There are approximately 25,270 acres of steep slopes scattered

throughout the County. Further west along Peavine Ridge and Boynton Ridge,

the terrain becomes more rolling hills with steep slopes interspersed in the

characteristic way of the Ridge and Valley physiographic province that this area

represents.

Water supply watershed

The lands to the east of White Mountain Ridge drain to Tiger Creek and East

Chickamauga Creek, ultimately joining to form South Chickamauga Creek, the

source of water for the City of Ringgold’s Water Treatment Plant. South

Chickamauga Creek ultimately flows north to the Tennessee River.

The Coosa Valley Regional Development Center’s report, “Northwest Georgia

Water Supply Watershed Based Regional Source Water Assessments” (January

2003) delineated an Inner Management Zone (IMZ) in a circle 7 miles out from

Ringgold’s water intake. Potential pollution sources were identified within both

that zone and an Outer Management Zone (OMZ). Public education around non-

point sources of pollution in the watershed such as septic tank seepage,

herbicides applied to roadways, power line right of ways, and lawns, sink hole

and abandoned well regulation, would go a long way toward protecting this

source of the County’s drinking water.

The Catoosa County Water Authority manages the intake at Yates Spring (see

below).

Wetlands

The US Army Corps of Engineers defines a wetland as “…areas inundated or

saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to

support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of

vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.” (Authority:

U.S.C. 1344. 328.3 8B). Wetlands include swamps, bogs, ponds, and marshes.

Wetlands slow down stormwater and filters out pollutants and sediment. The

County does have an ordinance governing protection of wetlands. It has been

recommended that levels of enforcement and protection under this ordinance

could be enhanced.

Groundwater Recharge Areas

Recharge is the process by which groundwater is replenished. A recharge area

is where precipitation is able to transmit downward to an aquifer. Unless the

area is solid rock or covered by development or impervious areas, a certain

percentage of precipitation will infiltrate. Areas that transmit the most

precipitation are referred to as “critical” recharge areas. These areas contain

characteristics that enhance the recharge potential, namely types of vegetation

cover, slope, soil composition, depth to the water table, the presence or absence

of confining beds and other factors. Symbolic of the underlying karst topography

of the region, there are many recharge areas in the unincorporated areas of the

County.

100 year Flood Prone Area

Floodplains are indicated along major streams; Peavine Creek, West

Chickamauga Creek, South Chickamauga Creek.

In support of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA and the State

of Georgia are currently updating Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). FIRMs

are being created to reflect the base flood event, defined as the flood having a 1-

percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, also referred to

as the 100-year flood. When this mapping is complete the County will have

access to the most recent data available. The current Chief Building Official for

the County participates as a board member for this program.

Census Blocks containing recorded archeological sites

Wherever possible, development will be restricted in these Census blocks.

Yates Spring

The Catoosa County Water Authority manages Yates Spring which has

purchased acres in the water supply watershed in order to protect this source of

the County’s drinking water.

Parks/Recreation/Conservation

Parks and recreation areas constitute protected permanent greenspace in the

County.

Currently the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Park , the nations’ oldest and

largest National Military Park, is situated on 3908 acres in Catoosa County. The

Elsie Holmes Nature Park is an 80 acre tract in the unincorporated area of the

County. These lands were acquired/donated through fee simple transfer as

opposed to conservation easements or net loss agreements.

Development strategies for these areas include the widening of roadways only

when absolutely necessary, careful design of roadway alterations to minimize

visual impact, and promotion of areas as passive-use tourism and recreation

destinations.

MAP OF AREAS REQUIRING SPECIAL ATTENTION

Issues and Opportunities Analysis for Catoosa County

The 2020 Committee determined that the following three were priority issues for the

County in the upcoming five years;

 Education

 Historical

 Transportation

1. Education: The County has been working toward a new concept for Benton

Place, the area in the County where social and educational services are clustered.

They envision a satellite campus uniting 4-year college curriculum through Dalton

State College and Technical School curriculum through Northwestern Technical

College, thereby making either form of education available to Catoosa County

residents. The challenge of this project has been to coordinate efforts between the

State Board of Regents and Technical Colleges, entities which have no previous

history of working together as partners.

2. Historical: The 2020 committee determined that with all the new growth

occurring in the County, they did not want to lose sight of historic elements that

comprise an important segment of the cultural heritage of the area. Historic features

of the County may also be developed as a strategy for tourism and economic

development.

 Museum: potential locations were discussed (drug store, grain elevator, T.C.

Napiers Country Store, Anderson House deteriorating, Stone Church, Depot, etc.

)

 Billboard that is advertising The Colonnade is blocked by signs.

 A self-guided tour would showcase many historic features.

 Celebration of Civil War sesquicentennial (Battlefield Park, Clean up Ringgold

Gap Battlefield area.)

Land and Water Conservation Funding was used in ‘70’s for Parkway.

 Get DNR to approve moving park site (structure exists)

3. Transportation

 $2.5 in federal funds are available.

 Lack of roads going east to west in the County (Hwy 2A, Interstate75, US 41 run

north and south)

 20 roads on D.O.T. list (Burning Bush, Three Notch, Poplar Springs, Dogwood

Valley, Colbert Hollow & Hwy 151 Intersection)

 Most planned to be enhancements at intersections i.e. turn lanes, etc. rather than

widening projects.

Other Issues and Opportunities

Population and Population Change

 Retirees are becoming an increasingly significant portion of the population.

 While the overall poverty level for the County is less than 10%, making it

ineligible for One Georgia Authority Programs, 40% of children are eligible for

free lunches.

Economic Development

 Our economic development strategy is reactive rather than proactive.

 Building is currently our biggest industry.

 As a bedroom community of Chattanooga, much of the workforce commutes to

Tennessee.

 Tri-State Workforce Plan has been developed. The objectives are to certify

workers as ready for employment, and to increase retention of the workforce.

 Northwestern Technical College has workforce ready program allowing technical

schools to assess needs and adapt training accordingly. They actively recruit

new students for openings.

Existing businesses

 The County is not actively checking with existing businesses as to levels of

support needed.

 Need to balance residential growth against retail and commercial development.

Currently residential growth has dominated development in the County.

Prospective businesses

 Better training and education is sought to draw better jobs.

 Successfully recruiting targeted industry has been a particular challenge for

County as well as the region.

 Looking to preferably recruit clean industry.

 Spec building alternatives were discussed. County Commission Chairman Bill

Clark recommended options to providing a complete building.

 No master plan for Economic Development exists in the County.

Tools/Methods

 There are economic development entities however it is difficult to get cooperation

amongst them.

 University of Georgia is conducting study determining break even point for pricing

on new housing as compared to services required.

 There is not a great deal of vacant land in the County for new development.

Natural Resources

Implementation and enforcement

 Our Planning Commission uses our land use map to guide the management of

resources.

 We have passed Part V environmental ordinances recommended by the Georgia

DNR/EPD and are updating ordinances regarding;

o tree ordinances (replacement, replanting)

o ridgeline protection ordinance

o conservation subdivision ordinances

o floodplain ordinance (maps are being updated)

o streambank buffers

 Erosion/Sedimentation/Stormwater problems are addressed in an ongoing

fashion. We are a Phase II community and comply with our Stormwater NOI

requirements.

 Sewer improvements are in the works (SPLOST) - West Chickamauga

Interceptor.

Resource awareness

 The general public is not aware of the efforts of the local government to address

resource protection. Better public relations through the media or town hall

meetings could increase awareness.

 We do not have formal programs to encourage infill development.

 We lack brownfields or greyfields to redevelop.

 There are no linkages between local trail systems, state designated bike routes,

and existing trails in neighboring communities. Many residents feel that the

County has urbanized to the extent that bicycle travel is perhaps not appropriate

for our community.

Facilities and Services

Fiscal

 With Georgia Tech’s assistance we are considering the relative costs of

community services to different types of development.

Physical

 We have a strategy for the long term location of maintenance or public service

facilities.

 Fire protection has been a recently controversial topic as the County and its’

municipalities are reexamining their service delivery strategy related to fire

protection.

 Transaid – considering charging a fee to make this transportation alternative

more self-sustaining.

Housing

Housing mix and future demand

 There is a mix of housing types in the neighborhoods and new developments in

our community, providing varied housing options for residents at all stages of life.

 60% of the housing in the County is valued under $100,000, making ample

opportunities for affordable housing for residents. The County is not aware of

incentives and barriers involved in efforts to redevelop those properties.

Determining what barriers exist and providing incentives may help address the

mismatch between the location of available housing and major employment

centers in the community.

Housing and land use interaction

 We lack a mix of neighborhood amenities within walking distance of residences.

Most trips are accomplished by auto.

 The County may benefit from a complete inventory of vacant, tax delinquent, or

properties owned by governmental entities that may be appropriate for infill

development opportunities. We are currently working on taking advantage of

more well-designed infill opportunities.

 The County has very good housing ordinances and regulations protecting stable

residential areas.

 Residential uses are not currently permitted within the central business district.

Housing programs

 Our community has participated in Habitat for Humanity projects.

 We could benefit from:

o Maintenance, enhancement or rehabilitation programs.

o Incentives programs for affordable infill housing.

o Readily available home buyer education program.

Land Use

Development patterns

 There is a fairly clear boundary between where town stops and countryside

begins.

 While front porches are beginning to come back into popularity in the housing

market, our current development patterns discourage interaction between

neighbors.

 Right now the community’s development patterns do not create safe and

pedestrian-friendly environments. We are considering requiring development of

new subdivisions to include sidewalks.

 We are attempting to concentrate housing and commercial buildings in rural

areas in small well-planned nodes (i.e. villages with plenty of intervening

farmland or open space).

 A typical lot size in our community is between one quarter of and one acre,

therefore not compact but accessible only by automobile.

 Regulations governing trailers have been developed to ensure that new and infill

development will complement the character of the community.

Land Use, Continued.

Development process

 Our land use/development regulations are consistent, reasonable in their

allocation of land uses, and listed where appropriate.

 A checklist helps guide development review. The process has checks and

balances and review is accomplished equitably by a qualified staff.

 Our development regulations incorporate best management practices around

stormwater management, site development, landscaping, etc. and foster mixed

use, infill, development of neighborhood commercial, planned unit development ,

cluster development and considers continuous streetscapes and pedestrian

atmosphere, where appropriate.

 A site plan review process is required to back-up building regulations in our

community.

 The community is working on an expedited plan approval process as an incentive

to consider quality growth projects.

Transportation

Current and future conditions

 Our community offers equitable access to mobility through our public Trans-aid

system.

 Current transportation systems contribute to air pollution.

 Current transportation systems eat up open space, farmland, and wildlife habitat.

 We do have a high accident rate, increasing congestion and gridlock.

 Citizens are experiencing increasing commute times and distances – more

people driving longer distances to reach home, school, shopping or work.

 Taxpayers are frustrated as more and more money is spent to expand roadways

while traffic congestion remains unchanged.

 New and expanded roads in undeveloped areas soon attract new housing,

shopping, and business centers.

 Our community has many streets where traffic travels at inappropriate speeds,

making pedestrian activity unsafe and unappealing.

 Our community right-of-way pavement standards do not allow for flexible street

widths to accommodate different usage patterns or to promote walkability.

Alternatives and amenities

 Our community has few alternatives to using a car to get to places and to

eliminate traffic congestion.

 There is an imbalance between auto-dependent transportation projects and

alternative transportation projects.

 Community crosswalks are not effective; pedestrian amenities and safety

features are not required or invested in.

 In the unincorporated areas of the community:

o Streetscape improvements are not geared toward traffic calming and

pedestrian/bicycle friendliness.

o Housing, jobs, daily needs and other activities are not within easy walking

distance of one another in the community.

Transportation (cont.)

Transportation and land use interaction

 Higher intensity uses such as retail shops, offices, or apartments are

concentrated along major roadways.

 We have upgraded requirements for street layout in new developments, aimed at

making them more compatible with those in older parts of the community.

Intergovernmental Coordination

 The County coordinates with other local governments in order to manage

economic opportunities. The cities in the County benefit from SPLOST-funded

projects.

 The County has sought to coordinate with other local governments in order to

protect environmentally sensitive areas, historic or cultural resources. Examples

are the wetlands in the County, and the Chickamauga Battlefield.

 Our community has border agreements to address detailed questions of land

use, access, property value and annexation procedures. Cities must notify the

County on any proposed annexations.

 The County has been working steadily with Northwestern Technical College and

Dalton State College to build and strengthen relations and discuss innovative

approaches to educational opportunities in the County.

 It is a continuous, day-to-day effort to increase cooperation and build trust

between the City and County governments.

CATOOSA COUNTY SHORT TERM WORK PROGRAM

COMMUNITY FACILITIES

ACTIVITY YEARS

RESPONSIBLE

PARTY

COST

ESTIMATE

FUNDING

SOURCE

TRANSPORTATION: Road

improvements & bridge

construction or renovation: CR 162

(Colbert Hollow RD) with HWY 151

turn lane

2007, 2008 County 900,000 GDOT & SPLOST

Pedestrian /Bikeway SR2

(Battlefield PKWY) 9 miles from US

41 to US 27

2008, 2009,

2010, 2011

County &

GDOT

1,800,000 DOT & T21 Grants

Widening SR 151 South 2010 GDOT 7.0 Million GDOT

Preparation for bypass from

Battlefield PKWY to East Ridge

2008, 2009,

2010, 2011,

2012

GDOT

Battlefield PKWY

7.0 Million

GDOT

Graysville Road improvements &

bridge widening

2010 GDOT 10.0 Million GDOT

Bridge construction or renovation

throughout the county as follows:

* Lakeview DR over Black Branch

* Reeds Bridge RD over W

Chickamauga Creek * Boynton

DR over Peavine Creek * Steele

RD over Black Springs Tributary *

Graysville RD over S Chickamauga

Creek * Keith RD over Little Tiger

Creek * Keith RD over Sugar

Creek * Lane RD over Little

Chickamauga Creek * Peavine

RD over Peavine Creek * Three

Notch RD over Peavine Creek *

Bandy RD over E Chickamauga

Creek * Old Mill RD over Peavine

Creek * Wooten RD over Peavine

Creek * Belt RD over Dry Branch

(monitor) * Mag Williams RD over

Blue Springs Branch * Potts RD

over Peavine Creek *

Temperance Hall RD over Little

Chickamauga Creek * Yates

Springs RD over Little

Chickamauga Creek *

Greenwood RD over S

Chickamauga Creek Overflow

(monitor) * Greenwood RD over S

Chickamauga Creek * Dogwood

Valley RD over E Chickamauga

Creek * Cottonwood Mill RD over

E Chickamauga Creek * Smith

Chapel RD over Little Tiger Creek

* Mt. Vernon RD over Sugar Creek

2008, 2009,

2010, 2011,

2012

County &

GDOT

9.0 Million GDOT & SPLOST

Bridge construction or renovation -

CONTINUED: * Stewart RD over

Cat Creek * Stewart RD over

Tiger Creek (monitor) * Keith

Salem RD over Sugar Creek *

Houston Valley RD over Dry Creek

* Houston Valley over Dry Creek

Tributary * Cooper RD over Little

Tiger Creek * Cherokee Valley

RD over Oak Mountain Branch *

Fant DR over Black Branch

(monitor) * Rollins Industrial

BLVD over Little Chickamauga

Creek * City Hall DR over Black

Branch (monitor) * Swanson RD

over Hurricane Creek

2008, 2009,

2010, 2011,

2012

County &

GDOT

9.0 Million GDOT & SPLOST

COMMUNITY FACILITIES, CONT.

Resurface 25 miles of substandard

county roads

2008, 2009,

2010, 2011,

2012

4.0 Million GDOT & LARP

Improve West Circle DR & East

Lakeview DR

2010

County &

GDOT

200,000 SPLOST

Burning Bush RD turn lane at

Poplar Springs RD

2010

County &

GDOT

500,000 GDOT & SPLOST

Improve Mack Smith RD and

Mineral AVE

2009, 2010,

2011

County &

GDOT

4.0 Million GDOT & SPLOST

LARP 100 miles paving

2009, 2010,

2011, 2012

County &

GDOT

1.0 Million

GDOT, LARP &

County

Lakeview Road Storm Water

Project

2009 County 250,000 SPLOST

Road improvements: Intersection

turn lanes throughout the county

2008, 2009,

2010

County TBD

Federal Highway

Administration

SEWER CONSTRUCTION:

Preparation of Lakeview DR and

West Chickamauga Creek sewer

installation and retention ponds for

flood prevention

2010, 2011 County 12.0 Million

SPLOST & FEMA

Grant

Bandy RD off US 41; SR 146

(Cloud Springs); N. Three Notch

RD sewer construction

010, 2011,

2012

County 10.0 Million

SPLOST & ARC

Grant

W. Chickamauga Sewer Project

Alternate 3 and Alternate 4

Connector Lines

2008 County 3.0 Million SPLOST

Phase III Lakeview Sewer CDBG

Project

2009 County 550,000 CDBG & SPLOST

OTHER: Purchase two Tractor

Mowers and other Public Works

equipment

2009 County 1.5 Million SPLOST

Add soccer fields to Jack Mattox

Park

2008, 2009 County 10,000 SPLOST

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ACTIVITY YEARS

RESPONSIBLE

PARTY

COST

ESTIMATE

FUNDING

SOURCE

Develop publicly-owned Industrial

Park

2010, 2011 CCDA 4.0 Million

SPLOST, General

Fund &/or other

sources as

identified

Consider sites for publicly-owned

Speculative Building

2011 CCDA 200 SPLOST

Develop publicly-owned

Speculative Building

2011 CCDA 450,000 SPLOST

HOUSING

ACTIVITY YEARS

RESPONSIBLE

PARTY

COST

ESTIMATE

FUNDING

SOURCE

Joint comprehensive housing study

(which will look at affordability,

demand by age groups, quality of

construction and whether building

codes are insuring quality

construction, especially in multi-

unit dwellings)

2010, 2011

Catoosa

County, Cities

of Ringgold &

Fort Oglethorpe

10,000 General Fund

LAND USE

ACTIVITY YEARS

RESPONSIBLE

PARTY

COST

ESTIMATE

FUNDING

SOURCE

Land Use Plan for industrial &

commercial use by Quality, Growth

& Research Team

2009 County 40,000

General Fund &

Grants

Implement Greenspace Plan (2008

ongoing)

2008, 2009,

2010, 2011,

2012

County N/A In House

Populate database with information

and make GIS for Catoosa County

available to community for a fee

(fee structure to be determined)

2007 County N/A General Fund

NATURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES

ACTIVITY YEARS

RESPONSIBLE

PARTY

COST

ESTIMATE

FUNDING

SOURCE

Develop a plan for periodically

updating the historic resources

survey (s)

2008

Historic Comm,

Historic

Preservationist

20,000 General Fund

Nominate additional properties to

the National Register of Historic

Places that can benefit from

designation

2008

Historic Comm,

Historic

Preservationist

2,000 HPF Grant

Contact the Georgia Trust about

the vacant historic properties

suitable for the statewide

Revolving Fund Program

(reference list from Chairman

Clark)

2008

Historic

Preservationist

25 RDC

Continue the development of

community resources and

partnerships (local, state, regional,

and national) to maximize access

to and interpretation of the

Ringgold Gap Battlefield

2008

Historic Comm,

Historic

Preservationist

5,000

General Fund & In

Kind

Historic Tourism Study 2008 County 10,000 HPS & ARC Grants

County Historical Museum 2008, 2009 County N/A

General Fund &

Grants

Gen. Cleburne Statue 2008, 2009

GA Historical

Dept &

Cleburne

Historical

Society

50,000

GA Historical Dept,

Cleburne Historical

Society &

Donations

Purchase Catoosa Platform 2009 County 15,000 Grant

SIGNAGE TO LOCATE AND

IDENTIFY HISTORICAL

LANDMARKS IN COUNTY: *

Skirmish at Ballew Ford *

Skirmish at Anderson Bridge *

Ringgold Cemetery * Old

Methodist Church * Anderson

Cemetery * Civil War

Deceased/Hospitals * Lookout

Railroad * Grave of Mrs.

Humphrey Posey (Rev to the

Cherokees) * Ellis Springs * Old

Federal Road * Dixie Highway *

Nick-a-Jack Road * TN River to

Calhoun * Three Notch Road *

Indians at Camp Cummings in

LaFayette to Rock Spring to US 41

Old Federal Road then Ringgold

then Calhoun * Alabama Road

*Jackson to Alabama * Calhoun

Road * Peavine Creek Bridge *

Dip in Highway 4 * Interpretive

signs in Mountain Gap * General

Monument

2008, 2009,

2010, 2011

City of

Ringgold,

County, GDOT,

& GA Historical

Society

Grant Funding -

Not Established

Grants, GDOT,

City of Ringgold,

County & GA

Historical Society

EDUCATION

ACTIVITY YEARS

RESPONSIBLE

PARTY

COST

ESTIMATE

FUNDING

SOURCE

Bring Dalton State and NW

Technical satellite college

campuses to Benton Place

2008, 2009,

2010, 2011,

2012

State & County TBD State of Georgia

Addition to the Shirley Smith

Learning Center

2007, 2008 County 500,000 State Grant

Amphitheater to Benton Place

Campus

2007 NW GA Bank 500,000 NW GA Bank

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS

ACTIVITY YEARS

RESPONSIBLE

PARTY

COST

ESTIMATE

FUNDING

SOURCE

Administration of 911 system for

Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe by

Catoosa County

2007 County N/A County

Administration of Fire & Rescue

Departments for Ringgold and Fort

Oglethorpe by Catoosa County

2007 County 2.0 Million County

REPORT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Completed

Currently

Underway

Postponed

Not

Accomplished

* Explanation for

Postponed or

Unaccomplished

Program

COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Activity

Transportation: Road Improvements &

bridge construction or renovation: CR 162

(Colbert Hollow Rd / McIntyre Rd

Colbert

Hollow

McIntyre Rd

McIntyre Rd. Lack

of funds

Preparation of Lakeview Dr. sewer

installation and retention ponds for flood

prevention

Date changed;

see STWP (due to

lack of

easements)

Lakeview Rd. project

Date changed;

see STWP

Pedestrian/Bikeway SR2 Battlefield

Parkway 9 miles US41 to US27

WIDENING SR151, Graysville Rd, Three

Notch

Preparation for bypass from Battlefield

Parkway to East Ridge; Peavine Creek

Bridge X

Date changed;

See STWP

Graysville Rd improvements & bridge

Date changed;

See STWP

New Access to I-75 at Three Notch Rd.

GDOT would not

approve

Transportation: Road improvements and

bridge construction or renovations

throughout the county. Resurface 25

miles of county road Burning Bush Rd., 5

miles road improvement X

Seeking funding

from GDOT, See

STWP

Burning Bush Rd. Turn Lane or widen 0.1

mile

Date changed;

See STWP

COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Improve West Circle Dr. & E. Lakeview

Dr.

Date changed;

See STWP

Transportation: Road Improvements

Peavine &

Colbert Hollow Creek Bridges X

Date changed;

See STWP

Improve Mack Smith Rd & Mineral

Av./Poplar Springs Rd.

Date changed;

See STWP

Purchase 2 Dump Trucks

LARP 100 miles paving

Date changed;

See STWP

SHORT TERM WORK PROGRAM

Work Program

Completed Underway Postponed

Not

Accomplished Explanation

Bridge Maintenance & Repair

Date changed;

See STWP

Sewer Construction Bandy Rd off US 41;

SR141; Three Notch Rd.

Date changed;

See STWP

Add soccer fields to ex. Parks

Date changed;

See STWP

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Consider sites for publicly-owned

industrial park

Develop publicly owned industrial park

Date changed;

See STWP

Consider sites for publicly-owned

speculative building

Date changed;

See STWP

Develop publicly-owned speculative

building

Date changed;

See STWP

HOUSING

Joint comprehensive housing study

(which will look at affordability, demand by

age groups, quality of construction and

whether building codes are insuring

quality construction, especially in multi-

unit dwellings X

Date changed;

See STWP

LAND USE

Land Use Plan for Industrial &

Commercial Use

Date changed;

See STWP

Adopt Greenspace Plan

Implement Greenspace Plan (partial

through 2005-ongoing

NATURAL AND CULTURAL

RESOURCES

Pursue Intensive Historic Resources

Survey of Ringgold and the

unincorporated portion of Catoosa County

Develop a plan for periodically updating

the historic resources survey(s)

Date changed;

See STWP

Nominate properties to the National

benefit from designation, such as the

Catoosa County Courthouse X

Contact the Georgia Trust about vacant

historic properties suitable for the

statewide revolving fund program X

Work Program

Completed Underway Postponed

Not

Accomplished Explanation

Continue the development of community

resources and partnerships (local, state,

regional, and national) to maximize

access to and interpretation of the

Ringgold Gap Battlefield.

Adopt Environmental Ordinances:

Wetlands, Watershed, Groundwater

Recharge Protection X

Implement Environmental Ordinances

Historic Tourism Study

Date changed;

See STWP

CITY OF FORT OGLETHORPE

Quality Community Objectives Assessment – City of Fort Oglethorpe

This assessment is meant to give a community an idea of how it is progressing

toward reaching the Quality Community Objectives set by the Department of

Community Affairs, but no community will be judged on progress. The

assessment is a tool for use at the beginning of the comprehensive planning

process, much like a demographic analysis or a land use map, showing a

community that "you are here." The statements focus on local ordinances,

policies, and organizational strategies intended to create and expand quality

growth principles. A majority of "yes" answers for an objective may indicate that

the community has in place many of the governmental options for managing

development patterns. "No" answers may provide guidance in how to focus

planning and implementation efforts for those governments seeking to achieve

these Quality Community Objectives.

Development Patterns

Traditional Neighborhoods

Traditional neighborhood development patterns should be encouraged, including

use of more human scale development, compact development, mixing of uses

within easy walking distance of one another, and facilitating pedestrian activity.

1. If we have a zoning code, it does not separate commercial, residential and

retail uses in every district. No.

2.Our community has ordinances in place that allow neo-traditional development

"By right" so that developers do not have to go through a long variance process.

Yes.

3.We have a street tree ordinance that requires new development to plant shade

bearing trees appropriate to our climate. No.

4.Our community has an organized tree-planting campaign in public areas that

will make walking more comfortable in summer. No.

5.We have a program to keep our public areas (commercial, retail districts,

parks) clean and safe. Yes.

6.Our community maintains its sidewalks and vegetation well so that walking is

an option some would choose. Yes.

7.In some areas, several errands can be made on foot, if so desired. Yes.

8.Some of our children can and do walk to school safely. Yes.

9.Some of our children can and do bike to school safely. Yes.

10.Schools are located in or near neighborhoods in our community. SOME

Development Patterns (cont.)

Infill development

Communities should maximize the use of existing infrastructure and minimize the

conversion of undeveloped land at the urban periphery by encouraging

development or redevelopment of sites closer to the downtown or traditional

urban core of the community.

1.Our community has an inventory of vacant sites and buildings that are available

for redevelopment and/or infill development. No.

2.Our community is actively working to promote Brownfield redevelopment. No.

3.Our community is actively working to promote greyfield redevelopment. No.

4.Areas of our community are planned for nodal development (compacted near

intersections rather than spread along a major road.) No.

5.Our community allows small lot development (5000 SF or less) for some uses.

No.

Sense of place

Traditional downtown areas should be maintained as the focal point of the

community or, for newer areas where this is not possible, the development of

activity centers that serve as community focal points should be encouraged.

These community focal points should be attractive, mixed-use, pedestrian-

friendly places where people choose to gather for shopping, dining, socializing,

and entertainment.

1.If someone dropped from the sky into our community, he or she would know

immediately where she was, based on our distinct characteristics. No.

2.We have delineated the areas of our community that are important to our

history and heritage and have taken steps to protect those areas. Yes.

3.We have ordinances to regulate the aesthetics of development in our highly

visible areas.No.

4.We have ordinances to regulate the size and type of signage in our community.

Yes.

5. We offer a development guidebook that illustrates the type of new

development we want in our community.No.

6.If applicable, our community has a plan to protect designated farmland. No.

Transportation alternatives

Alternatives to transportation by automobile, including mass transit, bicycle

routes, and pedestrian facilities, should be made available in each community.

Greater use of alternate transportation should be encouraged.

1. We have public transportation in our community through Trans-Aid. Yes

Development Patterns (cont.)

Transportation alternatives (cont.)

2. We require that new development connects with existing development through

a street network, not a single entry/exit. No.

3. We do have a good network of sidewalks to allow walking to a variety of

destinations. No.

4.We have a sidewalk ordinance in our community that requires all new

development to provide user-friendly sidewalks. Yes.

5.We require newly built sidewalks connect to existing sidewalks wherever

possible. No.

6.We have a Regional Bicycle Plan for bicycle routes through our community.

7.We allow commercial and retail development to share parking areas wherever

possible. Yes.

Regional identity

Each region should promote and preserve a regional “identity”, or regional sense

of place, defined in terms of traditional architecture, common economic linkages

that bind the region together, or other shared characteristics.

1.Our community is characteristic of the region in terms of architectural styles

and heritage. No.

2.Our community is connected to the surrounding region for economic livelihood

through businesses that process local agricultural products. No.

3.Our community encourages businesses that create products that draw on our

regional heritage (mountain, agricultural, metropolitan, coastal). No.

4.Our community participates in the Georgia Department of Economic

Development's regional tourism partnership. No.

5.Our community promotes tourism opportunities based on the unique

characteristics of our region. No.

6.Our community contributes to the region, and draws from the region, as a

source of local culture, commerce, entertainment, education. No.

Resource Conservation

Heritage preservation

The traditional character of the community should be maintained through

preserving and revitalizing historic areas of the community, encouraging new

development that is compatible with the traditional features of the community,

and protecting other scenic or natural features that are important to defining the

community’s character

1.We have designated historic districts in our community. Yes.

2.We have an active historic preservation commission. Yes.

Resource Conservation (cont.)

Heritage preservation (cont.)

3.We want new development to complement our historic development, and we

have ordinances in place to ensure that happening. Yes.

Open space preservation

New development should be designed to minimize the amount of land

consumed, and open space should be set aside from development for use as

public parks or as greenbelts/wildlife corridors. Compact development

ordinances are one way of encouraging this type of open space preservation.

1.Our community has a greenspace plan. No.

2.Our community is actively preserving greenspace – either through direct

purchase, or by encouraging set-asides in new development. No.

3.We have a local land conservation program, or, we work with state or national

land conservation programs to preserve environmentally important areas in our

community. No.

4.We have a conservation subdivision ordinance for residential development that

is widely used and protects open space in perpetuity. No.

Environmental Protection

Environmentally sensitive areas should be protected from negative impacts of

development, particularly when they are important for maintaining traditional

character or quality of life of the community or region. Whenever possible, the

natural terrain, drainage, and vegetation of an area should be preserved.

1.Our community has a comprehensive natural resources inventory. No.

2.We use this resource inventory to steer development away from

environmentally sensitive areas. No.

3.We have identified our defining natural resources and have taken steps to

protect them.No.

4.Our community has passed the necessary Part V Environmental Ordinances,

and we enforce them. Yes.

5.Our community has and actively enforces a tree preservation ordinance. No.

6.Our community has a tree-replanting ordinance for new development. No.

7.We are using stormwater best management practices for all new development.

Yes.

8.We have land use measures that will protect the natural resources in our

community (steep slope regulations, floodplain or marsh protection, etc.) No.

Social and Economic Development

Growth preparedness

Each community should identify and put in place the pre-requisites for the type of

growth it seeks to achieve. These might include infrastructure (roads, water,

sewer) to support new growth, appropriate training of the workforce, ordinances

and regulations to manage growth as desired, or leadership capable responding

to growth opportunities and managing new growth when it occurs.

1.We have population projections for the next 20 years that we refer to when

making infrastructure decisions. No.

2.Our local governments, the local school board, and other decision-making

entities use the same population projections. No.

3. Our elected officials understand the land development process in our

community. Yes.

4. We have reviewed our development regulations and/or zoning code recently,

and believe that our ordinances will help us achieve our QCO goals. Yes.

5.We have a Capital Improvements Program that supports current and future

growth. No.

6..We have designated areas of our community where we would like to see

growth. These areas are based on the natural resources inventory of our

community. No.

7. We have clearly understandable guidelines for new development. Yes.

8. We have a citizen-education campaign to allow all interested parties to learn

about development processes in our community. No.

9. We have procedures in place that make it easy for the public to stay informed

about land use issues, zoning decisions, and proposed new development. Yes.

10. We have a public awareness element in our comprehensive planning

process. No.

Appropriate businesses

The businesses and industries encouraged to develop or expand in a community

should be suitable for the community in terms of job skills required, long-term

sustainability, linkages to other economic activities in the region, impact on the

resources of the area, and future prospects for expansion and creation of higher-

skilled job opportunities.

1.Our economic development organization has considered our community's

strengths, assets, and weaknesses and has created a business development

strategy based on them. No.

2.Our ED organization has considered the types of businesses already in our

community, and has a plan to recruit business/industry that will be compatible.

No.

3.We recruit firms that provide or create sustainable products. No.

4.We have a diverse jobs base, so that one employer leaving would not cripple

us. Yes.

Social and Economic Development (cont.)

Employment Options

A range of job types should be provided in each community to meet the diverse

needs of the local workforce.

1.Our economic development program has an entrepreneur support program.

No.

2.Our community has jobs for skilled labor. Yes.

3.Our community has jobs for unskilled labor. Yes.

4.Our community has professional and managerial jobs. Yes.

Housing Choices

A range of housing size, cost, and density should be provided in each community

to make it possible for all who work in the community to also live in the

community (thereby reducing commuting distances), to promote a mixture of

income and age groups in each community, and to provide a range of housing

choice to meet market needs.

1.Our community allows accessory units like garage apartments or mother-in-law

units. No.

2.People who work in our community can afford to live here, too. Yes.

3.Our community has enough housing for each income level (low, moderate, and

above-average incomes) Yes.

4.We encourage new residential development to follow the pattern of our original

town, continuing the existing street design and recommending smaller setbacks.

No.

5.We have options available for loft living, downtown living, or "neo-traditional"

development. No.

6.We have vacant and developable land available for multifamily housing. Yes.

7.We allow multifamily housing to be developed in our community. Yes.

8.We support community development corporations building housing for lower

income households.Yes.

9.We have housing programs that focus on households with special needs. Yes.

10.We allow small houses built on small lots (less than 5,000 square feet) in

appropriate areas. No.

Educational opportunities

Educational and training opportunities should be readily available in each

community – to permit community residents to improve their job skills, adapt to

technological advances, or to pursue entrepreneurial ambitions.

1.Our community provides work-force training options for our citizens. Yes.

2.Our workforce training programs provide citizens with skills for jobs that are

available in our community. Yes.

Social and Economic Development (cont.)

Educational opportunities (cont.)

3.Our community has higher education opportunities, or is close to a community

that does. Yes.

4.Our community has job opportunities for college graduates, so that our children

may live and work here if they choose. Yes.

Governmental Relations

Regional cooperation

Regional cooperation should be encouraged in setting priorities, identifying

shared needs, and finding collaborative solutions, particularly where it is critical

to success of a venture, such as protection of shared natural resources or

development of a transportation network

1.We plan jointly with our cities and county for Comprehensive Planning

purposes Yes.

2.We are satisfied with our Service Delivery Strategies No.

3. We initiate contact with neighboring jurisdictions to maintain contact, build

connections, and discuss issues of regional concern. No.

4. We meet regularly with neighboring jurisdictions to maintain contact, build

connections, and discuss issues of regional concern. No.

Regional solutions

Regional solutions to needs shared by more than one local jurisdiction are

preferable to separate local approaches, particularly where this will result in

greater efficiency and less cost to the taxpayer.

1. We participate in regional economic development organizations. Yes.

2. We participate in regional environmental organizations and initiatives,

especially regarding water quality and quantity issues. No.

3. We work with other local governments to provide or share appropriate

services, such as public transit, libraries, special education, tourism, parks and

recreation, emergency response, E-911, homeland security, etc. Yes.

4. Our community thinks regionally, especially in terms of issues like land use,

transportation and housing, understanding that these go beyond local

government borders. No.

City of Fort Oglethorpe / Areas Requiring Special Attention

Transportation corridors

Defined as undeveloped or developed land on both sides of designated high-volume

transportation facility. Characteristics include orientation of buildings to highway; on-site

parking, and large set-backs for buildings.

 Gateway corridor is developed or undeveloped land paralleling the route of a

major thoroughfare that serves as an important entrance or means of access to

the community. The City has identified Mack Smith Rd. as it extends south to

Cloud Springs Rd. as a gateway corridor.

Focus on appearance with appropriate signage, landscaping, and other

beautification measures. Manage access to keep traffic flowing, and retrofit or

mask existing strip development or other unsightly features as necessary

Gateway Corridor – Cloud Springs Rd.

 Intown corridor is developed or undeveloped land paralleling the route of a

street or highway in town that is already or likely to experience uncontrolled strip

development if growth is not properly managed.

The intown corridor in Fort Oglethorpe extends along the Downtown area along

US Hwy 27.

Suggested development strategies involve; gradually converting the corridor to

an attractive boulevard with signage indicating commercial, historic and scenic

areas. Enacting design guidelines for new development such as minimum

setback requirements can make for more attractive corridors. Traffic-calming

measures and alternative solutions to parking congestion will reduce the role and

impact of automobiles in the community. In turn, providing basic access for

pedestrians and bicycles will aid in the transformation.

Intown Corridor

 Major highway corridor is developed or undeveloped land on both sides of

designated high-volume transportation facility, such as arterial roads and

highways. Ga Hwy 2 is the major highway corridor.

Development strategies ought to include; maintaining a natural vegetative buffer

along the corridor, directing new development be set-back behind this buffer, with

access roads, shared driveways or inter-parcel road connections providing

alternate access and reducing curb cuts and traffic on the main highway.

Landscaped raised medians can provide vehicular safety, aesthetics, and also

pedestrian crossing refuge. Paved shoulders can be used by bicycles or as

emergency breakdown lanes. Managing

access will keep traffic flowing and billboard restrictions may help reduce visual

clutter along this corridor.

Major Highway Corridor

 Scenic corridor is defined as developed or undeveloped land paralleling the

route of a major thoroughfare that has significant natural, historic, or cultural

features, and scenic or pastoral views.

US Hwy 27 from the city limits to Reeds Bridge Rd. has been designated a

scenic corridor.

A strategy for development ought to establish guidelines on development to

protect the characteristics deemed to have scenic value. Guidelines for new

development should enhance the scenic value and address landscaping and

architectural design. Access ought to be managed to keep traffic flowing and

pedestrian linkages ought to be provided to adjacent and nearby residential or

commercial districts,

Environmental Concerns

 100 year flood plain

In support of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), FEMA and the

State of Georgia are currently updating Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs).

FIRMs are being created to reflect the base flood event, defined as the flood

having a 1-percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, also

referred to as the 100-year flood.

The

 Groundwater recharge area