HENRY COUNCIL FOR QUALITY GROWTH TOURS SMART GROWTH DEVELOPMENTS

Henry Council for Quality Growth tours Vickery and Chattahoochee Hill Conservancy to see smart growth at work.

[ClickPress, Wed Mar 28 2007] Henry Council for Quality Growth board members and local county commissioners recently toured two responsibly planned developments in metro Atlanta to educate attendees about the need for smart-growth in Henry County.
The tour, which was organized by HCQG, consisted of visits to the Chattahoochee Hill County Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that protects the ecology of 65,000 acres in southeast metro Atlanta, and Vickery, a 214-acre master planned Forsyth County community consisting of a variety of residential housing, businesses and greenspace areas.
“This tour was organized to educate our elected leaders on the merits of smart growth and how other counties in metro Atlanta have been successful at implementing these practices,” said Steve Cash, Executive Director of the HCQG. “The tour was a huge success and clearly showed how high-density projects are not as offensive as some people may think. This tour made evident that growth, conservation and the environment can coexist feasibly and naturally together.”
Tour attendees included Henry County Commissioners Reid Bowman, Johnny Basler, BJ Mathis and Warren Holder; Livable Communities Coalition Executive Director Jim Durrett and Associate John Maximuk; and Kay Pippin, Executive Director of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce. HCQG board members Chairman Keith Seiler, Ronnie Huggins, Mark McCammon, Sandy Baker, Dennis Duncan, Steve Watson and Executive Director Steve Cash attended as well as Henry County employees Publicist Julie Hoover-Ernst and Planning and Zoning Director Michael Harris.
Councilman B.J. Mathis said the tour was an excellent learning opportunity because it allowed her to clearly see growth and planning concepts at the Chattahoochee Hill Country and Vickery.
“I was able to see first hand how creative neighborhood design and commitment to the preservation of natural resources can work together for a quality development,” Mathis said. “I would love to see communities like these in my county.”
The next HCQG meeting will be April 18 at Eagles Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, which will include a Legislative update from State Representatives John Lunsford and Steve Davis and Senator Emanuel Jones.
The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. for networking with the luncheon following at 11:50 a.m. For additional information, call 770-898-9076.
The Henry Council for Quality Growth promotes continued balanced and responsible growth in the county. The Council encourages long-range planning and adequate delivery of government services for all citizens; serves as a catalyst for consensus on growth issues; provides a forum for discussion of responsible development; and assists with economic or technical expertise as needed. For additional information, visit the Henry Council for Quality Growth Web site at www.henrycouncilforqualitygrowth.com or call 770-898-9076.

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