Quality subdivisions, Catoosa County’s accomplishments and a list of short-term public works required by the state were among topics discussed by members of the Catoosa County 20/20 Vision Committee, an advisory group led by County Chairman Bill Clark.

Clark began the meeting Monday night, Aug. 13 with a rundown of the Growth Readiness Project meeting he attended the previous week in Chickamauga.

The project, sponsored by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, seeks to address the challenges facing areas with significant population growth, from economic development to clean air and water.

“There was much discussion on what makes the ideal subdivision,” Clark said to about a dozen committee members in attendance. He said the county needs to move toward more specific ordinances that regulate subdivision development.

The modern concept of a “conservation subdivision” was discussed, Clark said. Attributes such as placing homes closer to the street and each other, designating community parkland and the use of water-pervious paving material are part of plans to reduce the impact of housing growth.

Safety considerations are also implemented in the plans, Clark said. “One thing that can be done to slow traffic in residential areas is to construct narrow, curvy streets.”

The committee discussed how narrower front yards could contribute to a safer, more neighborly feel and how the corresponding larger back yards might encourage more outdoor activities for families.

“I think a lot of mothers would love to have more ways to get their kids off the computer,” said one committee member.

Logo and other issues

County Manager Ron Brown presented a report on the county’s accomplishments, which he will send to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Brown also presented a long list of more than 20 projects as part of a short term (five year) public works update required by the Department of Community Affairs.

Road and sewer projects made up the bulk of the list, such as work to be done in stages along Graysville Road and a $550,000 sewer project in the Lakeview area.

Brown announced that the county is working on making its geographic information system (GIS) database available to the public on a fee basis.

GIS is, in a nutshell, is a computer system capable of storing, analyzing and displaying geographic information on maps for a variety of uses such as environmental impact assessments, urban planning and business marketing.

“It can be used for economic development, by the Chamber (of Commerce) — all of us will be able to use this,” Brown said of the system.

The committee approved Brown’s request to have the short term project list put up for a state law-required public hearing at the next Catoosa County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.

Martha Eaker, Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce president, presented proposed logo designs for promoting tourism in the county.

The oval-shaped logos were created by Linda Derrick of Graphic Advertising, Inc. in Rossville and feature a Civil War-era cannon on a rich blue background.

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