Board previews Bells Ferry LCI public hearing and lists consent‑agenda grants, construction items

County planning staff told the board the Bells Ferry Livable Centers Initiative plan update will be the subject of a public hearing and potential adoption into the county's comprehensive plan; staff underscored community engagement and a transit study included in the update. "We were excited Cherokee County was awarded that back in 2006,") the presenter said, noting it was time for a 20-year update and that policy recommendations will follow public hearings.

Separately, staff previewed a 12-item consent agenda slated for the regular meeting's consent calendar: an Accountability Courts grant award totaling $1,447,719; a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant for the district attorney's office for $124,444; an ARC senior-services award for $1,532,612; and a $5,000 recreation grant with no match. Staff also outlined SPLOST-funded vehicle replacements and equipment trailers, several MOUs to enable wireless emergency alerts between county EMA and municipalities, and multiple construction task orders and change orders: a $92,700.53 set of change orders to close out the 94 North Street contract (including ADA wheelchair lift work), a $71,805 Owens Drive drainage design task order, and a $178,000 Cherry Grove Road design contract for a 3,600-foot substandard segment.

Planning and zoning cases to be scheduled include a rezoning petition by TJDJ Enterprises LLC (planning commission recommended denial), a Parks Huff R40 subdivision rezoning with a setback variance in District 2, and a revised alternative-tree plan for the Redbarn tract. Staff noted some uploaded PDFs needed correction for the board packet.

Staff also presented a proposed MOU with Georgia Power to provide right-of-entry for staging in disaster response at county parking lots, and a joint city-county sidewalk MOU in Ball Ground in which the city funds design and ROW while the county would ultimately fund construction costs for unincorporated portions.

No final approvals were recorded in the work session; these items were presented as part of the regular meeting packet and will be considered at upcoming meetings.