Comprehensive Plan|NATURAL RESOURCES

DESIGNING WITH THE ENVIRONMENT

The natural resources enjoyed by the residents of Cherokee County, Ball Ground and Waleska are presently abundant and varied but finite. The number of uses and demands on these resources is large, and growing as development pressures increase. The water quality of the Etowah River and its tributaries has been steadily declining. Lands previously available for wildlife management are being developed. The amount of land used for general agriculture and timber is declining. As development continues to spread across the county, the need to preserve our environment has become more pressing.

Growth needs to be balanced with the need to retain and protect significant ecological and natural resources, i.e., streams, wooded areas, wildlife habitats and open spaces throughout the county. It is also important to identify and protect historic sites, areas of steep slope, watersheds and
water supplies. Development should be steered away from these valuable resources, including implementing additional measures to assess and protect the natural and historic resources of the County, particularly in the pre-development assessment phase. The County should identify targeted areas for conservation proactively, and not just react when faced with a development request.

The County and its cities have begun to initiate pro-active measures to protect natural resources. The use of the Watershed Protection Ordinance, Floodplain Regulation Ordinance, the Stream Buffer Protection Ordinance, the County’s Tree Preservation and Replanting Ordinance, the Soil Sedimentation and Control Ordinance, and adoption of the minimum DNR standards will ensure the protection of these important features within the County. The Future Development Map utilizes a designation for Nature Preserve. This designation includes active and passive parkland, dedicated greenspace, forests, lakes, the Little River and the Etowah River. The Rural Places Character Area represents pastures, farming and livestock areas, as well as land used for timber production or pulpwood harvesting. On a parallel course, Ball Ground and Waleska have adopted regulations that mirror the County’s ordinances for environmental protection.

To implement this plan, the County needs to further revise its Codes and Regulations to guide development away from sensitive areas. The creation of greenway connections between passive parks, as well as open space areas in conservation subdivisions, should be sought to ensure habitat for wildlife as well as humans. Sites where species of special concern are located should receive priority for protection and acquisition. Increased education of the general public and developers on environmental issues will bring about increased awareness of the importance of maintaining a proper balance between people and their natural and built environment.

For related policies, implementation strategies and more information on designing with the environment, please click here.