County wants comments on new subdivision regulations
By Carolyn Mathews
carolynmathews@ledgernews.com

Those who wish to split tracts of property into a few sections may soon have new rules by which to abide.

Cherokee County is drafting subdivision regulations, which explain how property being divided into small subdivisions is being handled. The new rules are designed to prevent “chain subdivisions,” according to Planning and Zoning Executive Director Jeff Watkins.

The county held a public hearing of a subdivision regulation ordinance at its Aug. 19 meeting, which would amend the county zoning ordinance.

After the public hearing, during which no one spoke after Watkins explained the proposal, commissioners voted to hold a second public hearing Sept. 16 and invited comment from the public up until that time.

“I feel the need for a comment period,” said Post 3 Commissioner Karen Bosch. “People can send e-mails, or however they’d like to comment.”

Bosch said she was confused by the language of the ordinance, which uses “subdivision” as a term for dividing property, as well as a term referring to a  neighborhood. Post 2 Commissioner Jim Hubbard agreed.

Under the proposed ordinance, Watkins explained that the rules for creating small subdivisions would be spelled out.

Currently, he said, when a property owner wants to divide one property into four properties, it is allowed without having to go through a subdivision plan review. No further subdivisions of those particular parcels are allowed until the tax identification numbers on the new parcels are received, which generally takes about a year, Watkins said.

He said some people have misused the ordinance, by immediately splitting the parcels four ways again and again, as soon as they can. The new rules would make those wishing to subdivide one property into four wait three years before subdividing again, or else submit to a subdivision plan review.

“The timing between minor subdivisions of property is about the only thing that could be controversial here,” said Post 1 Commissioner Harry Johnston. Hubbard said there also needs to be a clear definition between a private street and a common driveway.

The ordinance also provides for a preliminary plat review process with the planning department, so those who are planning to subdivide or develop a property can go over their plans with the county planning department before spending a lot of money with engineers to provide the  official plat plan.

The ordinance also outlines the rules for “legacy lots,” where a non-conforming lot is carved out of property for a family member.

In other business at the meeting, the commission:

ï unanimously approved the zoning request of Andrew Financial Group/Howard Brummel for a change from agriculture to R-40 of three acres at 1139 and 1195 Union Hill Road, for proposed residential use;

ï unanimously approved, with conditions, the zoning request of Highland Financial Capital Group for change from agricultural to general commercial for 3.27 acres at 2933 Union Hill Road, for retail use. The conditions included limitation to single-story buildings, no more than 18,000 square-feet total of the buildings in the rear area of the parcel, and a requirement to remediate the site in the area of the stream and remove garbage.

ï tabled a proposed abandonment of right-of-way on Barton Town Road for the second time. Several residents protested the move at a July 1 public hearing. Johnston said a resolution is still being worked out between a property owner and nearby residents who want to retain the right-of-way.

ï unanimously approved a clarification of wages paid to certain county boards and committees which delineates how the amounts were arrived at;

ï approved a public hearing Sept. 2 to consider the transmittal of the 2008 county Capital Improvement Element (CIE) and Short Term Work Plan (STWP) annual update to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Atlanta Regional Commission for review and approval.

ï unanimously awarded a $60,176 contract to Bartow Paving Company to complete road projects at Village at Park Creek; money still remains with the performance bond collection to plant landscaping later;

ï unanimously approved purchase of two New Holland four-wheel-drive tractors from Wade Tractor for $76,486 each.

ï unanimously approved easement agreement for a subdivision sign between the county and Falls of Cherokee Homeowners Association, as well as a development agreement for construction of a second entrance at Forest Creek Subdivision between the county and PEC Development; and

ï tabled an annexation request of 26.39 acres into the city of Canton on South McCollum Drive, near I-575. There is a question as to whether the property, owned by WSP Development LLC, is contiguous to city limits.

Woodstock considers moving senior center ... again
Building would stay a community center
By Sarah E. Alexander
sarahalexander@ledgernews.com

The William G. Long Senior Center in Woodstock could be moved for a third time in several years.

While the Woodstock City Council is considering moving the center to the old Woodstock Library building, it unanimously tabled leasing the old building Aug. 25. Mayor Donnie Henriques and Ward 6 Councilman Steve Faris were not present at the meeting.

City Manager Jeff Moon said the issue was tabled so that city staff could evaluate the current building department building for a senior center. He said the staff would update the council on the issue Sept. 8.

He said if the senior center is moved, which is the plan, the current building where the senior center is housed would remain a community center.

“They (seniors) need additional room, and it would allow the community center to be used for rentals during the day,” Moon said.

In other business, the council:

ï presented trophies to the Fourth of July parade winners: Sons of the American Revolution won for Most Patriotic and John Harter won for Most Original Float;

ï heard that a live video streaming request for proposal has been sent to five companies;

ï heard an update on the Brookshire water meter situation and that there are a few options the city can explore;

ï heard an update on the Trickum Road corridor park proposal;

ï heard that the city would not further consider changing the name of Parkway 575;

ï approved, 4-1 with Ward 4 Councilwoman Tracy Collins opposing, to table until Sept. 22 a request by J&J Construction to annex and rezone 3.48 acres south of Ga. 92 and east of Wigley Road from neighborhood commercial (NC) to NC with variances to allow for a 40-foot buffer against the abutting residential boundaries, an 8-foot buffer on the abutting commercial boundary and to reduce the number of required parking spaces. At the public hearing, several residents expressed concerns about the request, including the possibility of added traffic in the area and a decrease in property values;

ï approved a request to transfer ownership for an alcohol license for BP North America Inc. at 12152 Ga. 92 to American Energy Company LLC;

ï approved the first reading of revisions to the water ban violations;

ï approved the first reading of an amendment to the special events ordinance;

ï approved a stormwater purchase of real time processing for $3,000;

ï approved five stormwater utility vehicles for $124,230;

ï approved a stormwater purchase of Lecia GPS equipment for about $10,431;

ï approved contract documents with Strack, Inc., for the Noonday Creek sewer line project;

ï approved a Local Assistance Road Program project list;

ï approved a contract with Tina McKnight to hold a boot camp in Olde Rope Mill Park;

ï approved to repeal the award of a bid for the sole source wrecker service provider as approved on June 11, 2007, and to rotate the wrecker services until another request for proposal is solicited;

ï approved a request by Pat Patel for a sign variance for Lucky’s Beverage;

ï approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend the establishment of departments per the city manager’s reorganization plan: administration, city clerk, community development, economic development, finance, fire, parks and recreation, police and public works;

ï approved to reclassify pay for the new IT director (annual salary of $87,043.69) and chief financial officer ($89,219.79);

ï approved to table until Sept. 8 a contract amendment with BRPH Architects;

ï approved to vacate an easement in Ridgewalk;

ï approved to purchase insurance for special events; and

ï approved to table until Sept. 8 a T-Mobile tower lease agreement.

County SAT scores third highest in state
By Carolyn Mathews
carolynmathews@ledgernews.com

The 2008 senior class has put Cherokee County School District in third-place as the highest-scoring district in the state, and the second-highest scoring district in the state on the Scholastic Assessment Test in the Metro Area, according to figures released Aug. 26 by the Georgia Department of Education.

The SAT, a timed, multiple-choice exam, measures a student’s readiness to succeed in college and many higher learning institutions use the scores to determine which students will be admitted to their schools. This is the third year a writing section has been added to the traditional mathematics and critical reading sections of the test. A perfect score on all three sections of the test would be 2400.

According to the College Board Score Report, Cherokee’s 1,185 test-takers scored an average of 1578 on the test; state Department of Education figures show Fulton County’s 3,973 test-takers came in second with an average score of 1593 on the test and Trion City School’s 23 test-takers topped the state with a 1625 average.

Cherokee County School Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo noted that all four of Cherokee’s high schools returned scores that were above the state and national averages.

“Etowah cracked 1623,” he said. “We are 67 points above the national average countywide and 112 points above Georgia’s average.”

Petruzielo said the state went down this year by six points, while 

The district went up by 27 points. Although the state ranked 47th in the nation, he said that ranking can’t be blamed on Cherokee and Fulton County schools.

Petruzielo pointed out that in many states, such as Iowa, only a small percentage of college-bound seniors take the test. In Georgia, a majority of seniors take the test, even though about half go to college or technical school, a trend that pulls down the state average.

Cherokee High School’s composite score was 1537, Sequoyah’s was 1565, and Woodstock’s was 1582.

All the Cherokee High Schools were in the top 50 in the state when total SAT scores are ranked.

Creekview High School is not included on the list since it currently has its first senior class and will not be included until 2009.