Smart Growth meetings set

By Lisa Majors-Duff

Phase 1 of the county's "Smart Growth" initiative will serve to collect information from those citizens who participate in the process, said Economic and Development Commission Chairman Tom McClure at a joint meeting of the county and towns Sept. 28.

"We want to have meetings in each township and emphasis citizen participation," said McClure. Those who attend the Smart Growth meetings will be asked two questions: "What do you want to see changed about Jackson County?" and "What do you not want to see changed about Jackson County?" All responses to these questions will be taken down by meeting facilitators.

"We plan to promote these meetings by calling them 'Your County, Your Meeting,'" McClure said. "Any actions that result will be a direct result of these meetings."

An additional phase of the project is being planned, during which facilitators will return to the communities and confirm their findings. After community input meetings are completed, a plan for Jackson County's future will be developed. The process is expected to take at least two years, McClure said.

Smart Growth, a program developed by Gov. Jim Hunt, is a way for North Carolina counties to formulate plans for the future and use those plans to apply for state funds to accomplish their goals, said McClure. The EDC will assist the county with the process.

The meeting schedule through the end of the year is as follows:

Greens Creek/Savannah - Tuesday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m., Savannah Fire Department. Commissioners Roberta Crawford, Stacy Buchanan and Jay Denton plan to attend.

Cashiers - Tuesday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m., Cashiers Community Building. Commissioners Franz Whitmire and Denton plan to attend.

Scotts Creek II - Thursday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m. Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Fire Department. Commissioners Conrad Burrell and Denton plan to attend.

No meetings are planned for December, but they will continue in January. A list of 2001 meetings will be provided at a later date.

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