(OCT. 20, 2023) – A collaborative effort to revitalize an area of Sixes Road and Interstate 575 for transportation improvement and commercial development is moving forward.

At its Oct. 17 meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved, 4-0, an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Woodstock, the city of Holly Springs and the Cherokee Office of Economic Development to create the I-575/Sixes Road Interchange Area Plan. District 3 Commissioner Benny Carter made the motion, which was seconded by District 2 Commissioner Richard Weatherby. District 4 Commissioner Corey Ragsdale was absent due to illness.

The nearly 100 acres located in the southeast quadrant of the interchange are prime for strong commercial and employment nodes for the community but lacks accessibility. The land is divided among the two cities and the county jurisdictions, and all three governmental entities’ comprehensive land use plans show the parcels as regional center/employment.

Instead of piecemeal development, city and county leaders are moving forward together to ensure quality development of the area and lessen the impact of traffic congestion.

The IGA establishes roles and responsibilities for each jurisdiction and sets forth a process for selecting a consultant to complete a transportation study, a key component of the area plan. The transportation study is expected to begin in January 2024. Cherokee County will pay for 60 percent of the creation of the area plan, while the cities of Holly Springs and Woodstock will contribute 20 percent each. The county is absorbing costs for COED.

“Thank you so much for working on this,” said Commissioner Carter, who represents the area. “This is a great project, and I am looking forward to seeing what’s possible for that impossible intersection.”

The Board also approved three other cooperative documents with local cities for transportation improvements.

The Board approved an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the city of Woodstock related to transportation improvements at the Ga. 92 and Trickum Road intersection. The updated MOU supersedes the May 2020 agreement and updates federal funding received. The County will be the project lead and has received $4.3 million in federal funding for right-of-way acquisition and construction. County Manager Geoff Morton told the Board right-of-way acquisition is in process and construction is expected in early 2025. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion to approve the IGA, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The vote was 4-0. 

A similar MOU with the city of Woodstock for transportation improvements for the I-575 interchange at Towne Lake Parkway was approved. The agreement supersedes the May 2020 agreement and updates the project sponsor and notes the federal funding received for the project. Initially the city and county were going to jointly engage the project. In order to best leverage access to available state and federal funds, the county will take over the Towne Lake Parkway interchange project. So far, the county has received about $1.5 million for right-of way acquisition. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby. The vote was 4-0.

Another MOU with the city of Woodstock was updated related to the Ridgewalk interchange at I-575. The city of Woodstock will take over that project. The updated MOU, which supersedes the May 2020 document, identifies Woodstock as the project sponsor and notes that about $1.6 million in federal funding for right-of-way acquisition has been received by the city. The interchange will be converted to a diverging diamond interchange. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The vote was 4-0

All three transportation projects are funding with SPLOST 2018 and federal funding.

Also at the Oct. 17 meeting, the Board:

• Proclaimed Oct. 24, 2023 World Polio Day in Cherokee County on behalf of the five Rotary Clubs in the county. Towne Lake Rotary President Jim Klynman and Canton Rotary President Francisco Lozano were present to accept the proclamations.
• Announced that there are three vacancies on the Advisory Council for Behavior Health and Development Disabilities. The terms are for three years, and the Board meets via web conference every other month. Those interested should contact County Clerk Christy Black at cblack@cherokeega.com.
• Approved, 3-0-1, the minutes from the Oct. 3 work session, executive session and regular meeting. District 1 Commissioner Steve West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. Commissioner West abstained from the vote as he was not present at the Oct. 3 meeting due to illness.
• Held a public hearing related to a modification for zoning conditions request by Cumming Highway Storage. The applicant is seeking to eliminate a 2019 zoning condition restricting outdoor storage on the 9.86-acre parcel at 7222 Cumming Highway, and modify two other conditions to alter the plans. The applicant wants to add outdoor RV and boat storage on the interior of the property and construct a non-retail building facing Ga. 20 next to the existing structure. Nearby residents spoke during the public hearing. The BOC tabled the vote until the Nov. 7 meeting. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby. The vote was 4-0.
• Held a public hearing regarding the abandonment of a portion of James Dupree Lane. No one spoke. The abandonment is related to a development in the Cherokee 75 corporate park. Commissioner Carter made the motion to approve the abandonment, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby. The vote was 4-0.
• Held a public hearing regarding revisions to the noise ordinance. Four people spoke. The changes amend quiet hours to 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, 11 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Sunday, and 6:30 p.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday, restrict construction noise during quiet hours except by an after-hours permit, allows use of speakers at outdoor riding arenas until 7 p.m. as long as the speakers face inward to the arena and are no less than 500 feet from residential areas. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter. The vote was 4-0.
• Approved, 4-0, a modified version of JL Metals Holding LLC’s request to appeal a Zoning Board of Appeals denial related to a variance to decrease the buffer between Heavy Industrial and Agriculture from 200 feet to 100 feet. After meeting with the applicant and the nearby property owner, the BOC approved reducing the creek side buffer to 175 feet and the buffers abutting Heavy Industrial on the other three sides to 100 feet. Commissioner West made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, the consent agenda, which included: a National Opioid Settlement funding request for courts, authorizing a total allocation of $442,325 to fund personnel and operational costs for the DUI/Misdemeanor Drug Court, the Felony Drug Court and the Drug Lab through December 2025 and a budget amendment in the amount of $213,355; a budget amendment in the amount of $185,822 for CATS to accept grant funds for reimbursement of the Micro-Transit software; a subrecipient agreement in the amount of $50,000 with MUST Ministries for its Bridge Transitional Housing Program; adopting the 2023 Capital Improvement Element and Community Work Program Annual Report; the surplus of miscellaneous office furniture and equipment for the Clerk of Courts; resolutions to waive alcohol license residency requirement for A&B 888 Inc. dba Bells Ferry Food Mart at 10511 Bells Ferry Road, Canton; calling for a public hearing on Nov. 21 on a board-initiated rezoning of a 4.5-acre, county-owned parcel at 255 Old Mill Road, from General Commercial and Neighborhood Commercial to General Commercial with intentions to sell the property; calling for a public hearing on Nov. 21 on a board-initiated rezoning per a settlement agreement between Hazel Creek Properties LLC and Cherokee County of a parcel located at 3202 Hickory Flat Highway, from R-40 to OI and NC with conditions; and calling for a public hearing on Dec. 19 for a legacy lot request by Justin Rugg and Paula Krassa. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner West.
• Tabled, 4-0, a request for motorized carts on approved streets in the Crabapple Falls subdivision to the first meeting in January. Commissioner Weatherby, who is the district commissioner for the area, said he needed a better indication of the proponents and opponents. The staff attorney’s office will create a list of property owners that the applicant and opponents must use to create a petition. Commissioner Weatherby said he's looking for at least 70 percent of residents of the subdivisions to participate for a decision to be made. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Tabled, 4-0, a request for motorized carts on approved streets in the Southlands subdivision until the first meeting in January. Like the Crabapple Falls request, Commissioner Weatherby motioned to table decision pending review of a petition with at least 70 percent participation of the residents. The applicant will also need to use a list of property owners provided by the staff attorney’s office. Commissioner Carter seconded the motion.
• Approved, 4-0, a request for motorized carts in the Falls of Cherokee subdivision. Commissioner Carter, who is the district commissioner and indicated he had received overwhelming support for the initiative, made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, catastrophic medical insurance for inmates at the Adult Detention Center from IOA, using Lloyds of London. The total cost is $155,657. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, a professional services agreement with Open Hands, Inc. to provide meals for Senior Services. The estimated cost is $300,000 per year. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, the purchase of a 2023 Ford Escape from Courtesy Ford for the Risk Management Department. The cost is $31,000. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.
• Approved, 4-0, the purchase of two Ford Ranger pickups from Krause Family Ford for the Building Department. The total cost is $75,300. Commissioner Carter made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Weatherby.
• Approved, 4-0, the purchase of 60 Axis Q6010-E traffic cameras from 360 Network Solutions for $79,140 and 60 Cradlepoint R920 cellular routers, power supplies and antennas from ProLogic ITS for $82,690.20 for the Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Weatherby made the motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Carter.