Canton is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 22,958, up from 7,709 in 2000 and has a total area of 18.7 square miles. Canton is located just north of Holly Springs and south of Ball Ground. Interstate 575 passes through the eastern side of the city, with access from exits 14 through 20. Canton is 40 miles north of downtown Atlanta via I-575 and I-75. This site is not affiliated with the City of Canton.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Life in the Fast Lanes
A look ahead at the new Northwest Corridor Express Lanes, opening soon in Cherokee and Cobb counties.
Construction workers pour concrete for an express lanes slip ramp on I-575 at Barrett Parkway.
The Northwest Corridor Express Lanes are scheduled to open to commuters this summer. As we watch signs go up and construction in the final stages, we asked a representative of the Georgia Department of Transportation to give us a primer. If you have more questions about this endeavor, email candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com and we’ll do our best to get your questions answered.
The express lanes will be optional toll lanes running alongside the regular or general lanes on I-75 and I-575. The key word here is optional: No driver will be required to use the toll lanes at any time. The lanes will give travelers the option to pay a fee in exchange for a more reliable trip time, while transit riders benefit at no additional costs to them.
“Making it to appointments, picking up kids, getting home to let the dog out — drivers often need an option to suit their schedule and life,” said Jill Goldberg, external affairs/communications program manager for the Georgia DOT. “Travelers may choose the express lanes one day and stay in the general purpose lanes the next. Use of the lanes is completely customizable.”
The lanes will be reversible, operating southbound in the morning and northbound in the evening. This means the lanes will offer more travel capacity during peak times and in peak directions — which will improve the flow of all traffic, inside the lanes and out.
Toll rates will rise and fall with traffic demand. Dynamic-rate pricing helps regulate the amount of traffic within the express lanes, providing dependable trip times for drivers, vanpools and transit riders who choose to use them.
Xpress buses and registered vanpools will have toll-free access to the express lanes. You can find routes serving your area at GaCommuteOptions.com and xpressga.com.
Commuters will need a Peach Pass. The pass is placed on a car’s windshield and includes a barcode that is scanned to deduct tolls for each trip. There’s no fee to get or keep the Peach Pass — drivers only pay for the trips they take in the Georgia Express Lanes. Peach Passes (and more information) are available at PeachPass.com.
The Northwest Corridor Express Lanes are a part of the Georgia Express Lanes system, a network of toll lanes that run alongside existing interstates in some of the most congested corridors around metro Atlanta. In addition to the Northwest Corridor, the Georgia Express Lanes system includes the existing I-85 Express Lanes and the I-75 South Metro Express Lanes project, which opened in early 2017.
The reversible I-75 South Metro Express Lanes in Clayton and Henry Counties surpassed all expectations, serving more than 1 million trips since opening. Northbound morning commute trips in the express lanes are traveling on average 13 mph faster than those in the general purpose lanes, and southbound evening express lane commutes are running on average 21 mph faster. In addition, the general purpose lanes have seen less traffic during the morning and evening commutes.
More express lanes are coming throughout the Atlanta region to build out the connected Georgia Express Lanes system. An extension to the I-85 Express Lanes began construction in summer 2016 and is scheduled to open in 2018. Four additional express lanes are being planned as part of the Georgia DOT’s Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP). This program is moving forward 11 significant transportation improvement projects designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve mobility options statewide.
• How will drivers know what to do? There will be plenty of signage to alert motorists when they will need to exit the express lanes to use a regular existing exit/interchange on I-575. Closer to the time that the lanes open, a sign tutorial will be posted on the website (www.dot.ga.gov/DS/GEL/NWC) with more guidance on the signs motorists can expect to see, approximate mileage points where drivers will see the signs, etc. “This will allow those who want to use the express lanes to familiarize themselves with the signs and times to exit prior to the system opening,” spokeswoman Jill Goldberg said.
• How much time will the lanes save drivers? Data is available that projects how much time a driver could save using the express lanes. For example, it would take 16 minutes using the express system to travel south on I-75 during morning rush hour — from where the toll lanes start at Hickory Grove Road in Cobb County to where they end just inside the Perimeter. Compare that with 39 minutes in the general purpose lane, or 40 minutes if the project had not been built.
• What will it cost? Toll rates will be set by the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) Board of Directors approximately 6-8 weeks before opening. Rates of the two existing systems range from 10 to 90 cents per mile.
“If you look on the web at stories of the I-85 toll, you will see that, at the very peak periods of about an hour a day, some people pay tolls in the $14 to $15 range for the entire system, but the average toll paid is less than $2,” Goldberg said.
“I-85 is a mature system that has built up many dedicated users after six years of operations. The I-75 South [Metro] Express lanes users have much lower toll rates, as it hasn’t even been open for a year yet. The overall average fare on I-75 is just 60 cents. The peak period sees tolls around $1.15 to $1.30. So, you can see that the range of rates is great between the two systems – part of that due to the time each has been opened and part of it due to when people choose to use it and get in/get out.”
• What’s the price tag for this project? The cost is about $826 million.
Crews work on completing a bridge deck pour on an express lanes bridge traveling over Barrett Parkway.
11/18/17 Canton Elects Newcomer, Incumbants Madison Hogan 11/8/17 Cherokee Tribune Ledger News Newcomer Nick Estes won the Canton City Council Board 3 seat, capturing 63 percent of the vote. Incumbent Councilman Bill Grant secured another term on the Canton City Council for Ward 2. In the city of Canton, two business owners swept the polls in Tuesday’s municipal election. Incumbent Councilman Bill Grant defeated challenger and former City Clerk Susan Stanton for the Ward 2 seat by a landslide on Election Day. With all six precincts reporting late Tuesday night, the owner of Grant Design Collaborative secured about 72 percent of the ballots cast in the municipal election. During Election Night celebrations, Grant said he looked forward to getting back to work on the council, as he doesn’t enjoy campaigning or politics.
“I’m very excited and honored that the voters put their trust in me,” he said. Canton City Council members have done a brilliant job of making the city vibrant, connective and active, Grant said. He looks forward to focusing on their efforts together during his next four-year term. “I just really feel that we’ve been on a good track and moving Canton forward and doing strategic planning,” he said. Of his opponent, Grant said he appreciates anyone who steps forward to take on public service and was happy Stanton gave voters a choice in the race. Though disappointed in the results, Stanton said she believed her opponent deserved a gold star for winning the election and hoped he looked at his new term as a fresh start to represent the residents.
“Thank you to everybody who supported me and voted for me and please hold that thought,” she said. Stout’s Growlers owner, Nick Estes, a newcomer to politics, became the youngest member to join the seasoned council in Tuesday’s election. Estes defeated Councilman John Rust, who held the Ward 3 seat, after securing about 63 percent of total votes in Canton. Estes, who spent Election Night at his business with friends and family, said the win felt great and he was looking forward to making progress with current city council members. “I’m just so excited with the amount of support that we got from so many people, so just really proud of what we were able to do to just get a spark for some really solid growth we can get for Canton,” he said. Despite the election coming to a close, Estes said he’s ready to get back out into the community, conduct some town hall meetings and continuing getting his name out to residents.
“Now I’m going to be focused on what really…keeps (people) up at night and understand how we need to prioritize as a council,” he said. Rust said Tuesday night he thought Estes was a nice, young man. He said he hoped councilmembers do well in the next year and he was going to focus on starting a new chapter in his life. “Unfortunately, it will not include Canton,” he said. “I was looking forward to four more years, but end of story. I hope they do well, the city deserves it, needs it and deserves it.” Stanton said she was happy to hear the news of a new face coming to city council and Estes’ win. “That’s at least one new face in the crowd, and I hope he remains an independent thinker,” she said.
Councilwoman Sandy McGrew was re-elected for her Ward 1 seat unopposed. Voter turnout for the city’s election was close to the original number projected by Director of Cherokee County Elections and Voter Registration Kim Stancil. Of the 14,202 registered voters in the city of Canton, 13.1 percent cast a ballot in this year’s election. Stancil originally projected the city would see a turnout of 15 percent. ------------------------------------------------------ NICK ESTES in Upset over incumbent Rust!
From left, Anthony Rodriguez of Woodstock returns his voting card to Poll volunteer Danny Lawson after voting for the city elections on Tuesday afternoon. Staff / Erin Gray Cantrell
Of the 7.19 percent of registered voters who cast a ballot, 8,496 voted in favor of the plan and 2,288 voted against the sales tax extension in unofficial results.
The county’s SPLOST is expected to generate $253 million in revenue for various county and some city projects over the next six years.
“I am delighted, one, with the community’s response, two, underwhelmed with the lack of voter turnout but that’s a choice, and three, we look forward to the future of six more years of the current and now renewed one penny sales tax that will provide approximately $250 million over the next six years, for the project categories we outlined in the communications with and between the cities and as communicated to the citizens,” said County Commission Chair Buzz Ahrens.
About $95 million is budgeted to go toward county transportation projects, including resurfacing for $15 million, construction for roads and bridges estimated at $13.8 million and sidewalks and multi-use trails for $11 million. Other projects include an airport expansion, bridge replacements and traffic signal upgrades.
An estimated $58 million is projected to go to public safety, including $23 million to fund an expansion to the county’s jail, $12.9 million for replacement fire stations and $9.6 million for communication equipment.
An expansion of the county’s judicial facilities is budgeted for $18 million.
Sheriff Frank Reynolds thanked voters for their approval of the SPLOST renewal.
“We are very fortunate to live in a community where our citizens are well informed about real issues in our community,” Reynolds said. “I am very thankful to our citizens for continuing the SPLOST.
This will allow our jail to expand as our community continues to grow. The citizens of Cherokee County trust and support our law enforcement, and for that I am very thankful. Although this SPLOST helps the overcrowding in our existing jail, we will have to unfortunately expand as soon as it is complete. As your sheriff, I am very thankful to our community for their support.”
While unincorporated Cherokee County has about 71 percent of the county’s population, cities will receive 29 percent of SPLOST funds to split among the county’s five municipalities, along with some funding for two cities that are partially in Cherokee.
Some people speculated that the vote could be a record for SPLOST renewals.
The SPLOST extension approved by voters in 2010 will expire next year.
Dennis Burnette, chairman of the Cherokee County SPLOST Committee, said he was happy with the nearly 80 percent vote in support of the SPLOST extension.
“I think it shows a tremendous amount of confidence the people have in county government and city governments. It says to me the people of Cherokee County are satisfied with that course and believe that we’re on the right track. What is so phenomenal about that is that from a national perspective, there’s a lack of confidence in government,” Burnette said. “There are two people that come to mind [to thank,] one is my vice chairman James Drinkard, he is a resident of Woodstock and he was responsible for our website and our Facebook page. The other person I would like to thank is Barbara Jacoby. Barbara was in charge of our communications and our messaging, and she helped us communicate what our mission was to the citizens and why that mission was justified.”
Burnette said his team of 22 people, 11 on the committee, put signs near each of the county’s 42 precincts Monday and Tuesday morning.
“I didn’t realize there were that many [precincts,] but we did it. I almost bit off more than I could chew,” he said.
Burnette previously told the Tribune that it’s important residents of the county understand what the SPLOST ballot question offers for them, and that it is not a new tax or a tax hike.
“If we have one huge problem, it’s getting across to people that this is not a new tax, nor does its renewal mean higher taxes,” said Burnette. “Frankly, it’s amazing that people do not know that the purpose is to lessen the load on property owners to pay for roads, projects and equipment, and that this tax has been renewed over the years since the state law was passed in 1985 to provide another source to fund infrastructure needs.”
An estimated 30 percent of sales tax revenue is projected come from outside the county, when non-residents come to Cherokee County to shop and do business.
Because cities’ SPLOST funds are based on municipal needs and populations, the city set to receive the most from the proposed SPLOST is Woodstock with 29,898 residents, which would receive about $28.9 million, documents show. Ball Ground with 1,720 residents is predicted to receive about $3 million for improvements, and Canton’s 25,469 could see about $25 million dedicated to the city.
Holly Springs, with a population of 10,719, is predicted to receive about $10.4 million from the proposed SPLOST and Waleska’s 800 residents could see about $2.5 million dedicated to city projects and improvements. Nelson’s 673 residents are predicted to receive about $1 million in city improvements.
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Holly Springs residents speak out against commercial rezoning
At least 49 residents signed a petition opposing the requests for the Holly Springs City Council to annex and rezone a home at 2361 Toonigh Road.
Special to Tribune
A group of residents in Holly Springs is preparing to fight against a commercial rezoning request in their neighborhood at a Holly Springs Planning and Zoning meeting Thursday.
Homeowners in the Hickory and Toonigh Road area plan to attend the meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Holly Springs Public Safety Building at 3235 Holly Springs Parkway to object to the proposed annexation and rezoning of a home in their residential neighborhood from Agricultural to General Commercial, according to a press release.
At least 49 residents signed a petition opposing the requests, according to city documents.
The home, located at 2361 Toonigh Road, is surrounded on three sides by residential homes, as well as Hickory Road Baptist Church.
“Diagonally from the property is a small tract zoned neighborhood commercial that was recently requested and recommended for approval by the Holly Springs Planning and Zoning Commission to be changed to residential zoning by the owner. That results in the subject property currently being completely surrounded by residential and agricultural property except the church,” residents Richie Kook, Gary Grant and David Howton wrote in the press release. “The Cherokee County Future Planning Map designates this property as “suburban living” so local residents consider this rezoning application a prime example of “spot” zoning of commercial in a residential/agricultural area.”
The applicant, Brandon Smith, is requesting to annex and rezone 1 acre from Agricultural to General Commercial, according to the meeting’s agenda. Smith proposes to use the existing home on the property as an office for a lightning protection company with three employees.
City staff recommended approval of the annexation and rezoning requests with several conditions, including screened dumpsters/trash compactors, environmentally sensitive lighting, coordination with the city’s community development director for any future development of the property and city arborist regarding landscaping, agreement to provide a plan for deliveries to the city’s community development department prior to the issuance of a business license and agreement to follow design guidelines outlined by the city’s zoning ordinance.
Cellular phone towers, outdoor amusement enterprises, animal hospitals/clinics with outdoor kennels and big box commercial retail structures would also be prohibited from the site, city staff recommended.
Residents claim in the press release there are a number of concerns with the requests. The ingress and egress to the home is on a residential dead-end street and access to the property is through a residential area of homes and small working farms, according to the release.
Smith, they stated, withdrew his rezoning request from Cherokee County and applied it to the city of Holly Springs, adding the annexation request in the process.
“Smith omitted this information from his application to the city of Holly Springs, which is a disclosure requirement,” the release states. “Smith’s business, Base Lightning Protection, currently operates at 130 Dodd Street in Marietta under office/warehouse zoning, so residents question the reasons for the applicant’s request for general commercial zoning when he claims he needs the Toonigh Road location only for an office for three employees.”
The only property in the area zoned General Commercial is Hickory Road Baptist Church, which was previously zoned agricultural, residents claim.
“Cherokee County zoning allows a church to be located on a parcel with agricultural zoning so residents have questioned when and why the church land was zoned General Commercial,” the press release states.
Prior to the meeting Thursday, Smith held a community input meeting Oct. 6 at Hickory Road Baptist Church to share his plans, according to residents.
“At the community input meeting attended by approximately 35 people, he was met with strong opposition and many unanswered questions, which residents believe is why he opted to change his plan to apply for annexation into Holly Springs where he felt re-zoning was going to be easier,” the release states.
A public information meeting was held Sept. 22 by the developer at Hickory Road Baptist Church with 24 residents in attendance, according to city documents.
“The majority of the residents were concerned about the future development/decline of the property, impact to the general area, and property values,” the documents state.
In addition, the city has not received any comment from the county, according to city staff. Staff did acknowledge in a summary report of the requests that given the surrounding, rezoning the property to Neighborhood Commercial District might be more appropriate.
The Holly Springs Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Holly Springs Public Safety Building at 3235 Holly Springs Parkway.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Canton Exchange to annex into Canton
Note: This is located just across from the Target, Lowe's, Kohl's shopping area, the north side of Cumming Hwy (Hwy 20) Exit 19 of 575.
Phase one of the Canton Exchange shopping complex, pictured, is about 80 percent complete, according to Skylar Long with Perlis Nease Development. This portion of the center will include a Dunkin’ Donuts, Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, Tropical Smoothie Café, Sprint and Newk’s Eatery.
Council members voted 5-1 to approve Perlis Nease Development’s request to reduce their water and sewer tap fees for the Canton Exchange shopping center planned on Highway 20 across the street from Canton Marketplace. The developer agreed to annex the property, which is in unincorporated Cherokee County, within the city upon approval of the reduced fees. Councilman Bill Grant voted against the motion.
Perlis Nease Development originally requested to reduce the fees by 75 percent, however, council voted to approve a 50 percent discount. A final development agreement will need to be reached clarifying timelines for annexation when an agreement is reached, according to a letter from the developer to the city.
City Manager Billy Peppers advised the council at the meeting not to agree to a reduction larger than 50 percent.
“When the property taxes fade in, that would put us right about five years to at least recoup what we’re losing on the tap fee side,” he said.
Mayor Gene Hobgood and Grant both raised concerns about setting a precedent for future developments in the area wanting to annex into the city. Grant said a decision like this could end up making the city lose more tap and sewer fees going forward.
“We all know we’re going to need major investments in tap fees and water and sewer and so my concern is we kind of keep discounting, and discounting and discounting,” he said. “To me, there’s still a difference. I mean 75, there’s still a huge difference, 50 is still to me a huge difference. I mean, I would just rather be consistent with what we’re doing at Riverstone, especially anticipating all the new developments that go beyond that development all the way out to Scott Road.”
The shopping complex on Riverstone Parkway, Grant argued, only received a 30 percent cut in tap fees and was a good example of how the city should consider the Canton Exchange shopping center.
Peppers said one difference between the two developments was Riverstone was already in the city limits and the developers at Canton Exchange are making payments to the Canton Marketplace developers for infrastructure that was previously built on Highway 20.
Grant asked if the city would receive inspection fees or if they would be given to the county.
Peppers mentioned the city might lose out on exterior permit fees, but some of the interior buildout fees might go to the city.
“It’s just depends on the timing of the annexation and I think it’s something you could discuss as part of the reduction in tap fees, is what that expectation for annexation would be,” he said.
Prior to the vote, Peppers said the developer might not annex into the city if fees weren’t reduced at all and the city would instead serve them as a water and sewer customer.
Hobgood said he didn’t want council members to forget that while the city might recoup some monies from property tax on the development, the money would be used for different purposes than the funds collected from the tap fees.
“That’s a different bucket of money. That property tax doesn’t go to build those wastewater treatment plants or run those lines,” he said. “It goes for other things. Police protection and so forth. And what we’re giving up is water and sewer money, so I think we need to amend that, I think,” he said.
Though the city would be happy to have Canton Exchange incorporated in their limits, Hobgood said it would be easier to be consistent with the 30 percent discount granted to the Riverstone shopping complex.
The city would receive property taxes, business license fees and its regular potion of the special-purpose local-option sales tax from the project if council approved the request, Peppers said.
Councilman John Rust said the city would receive no taxes if the developer turned down the offer council approved and they could at least start collecting revenues in five years, instead of never.
“If you look at it as a 20 or 30 years project, you’re going to get a lot of money vs. potentially zero,” he said. “And we’re going to still have a lot of the problems because this is right across the street from Canton Marketplace. We have an opportunity here which we may never get again to close the loop between with the county running right down to the middle of (Highway) 20, to close the loop on both sides of 20 with city property. And frankly, I think to go back in with only 30 (percent) is a mistake. I think they might not go for that.”
Though annexation would allow the city to serve Canton Exchange and Canton Marketplace from a public safety standpoint, Grant said the neighboring RaceTrac and AT&T properties were still in unincorporated Cherokee County, so it would not “close the loop.”
“We still have that gap,” he said.
Councilwoman Sandy McGrew asked Peppers if anyone from the city had approached RaceTrac and AT&T to annex within the city. Peppers said he had not, but did mention it was harder to convince an already developed property to annex.
“I think it’s in the city’s interest to try to pull in that entire block to try to really square up those city limits and you know if you’ve got something that’s already developed, it’s a lot harder to get them to annex in,” he said. “They’re going to have to have some kind of incentive to make that work. Working with something that’s not completely developed, it’s not the best scenario, because of course you’d like the building permit fees and the impact fees and things like that, but at least it gets you ahead of the game to some extent on bringing them in.”
* Bill Grant
1,244 (72%)
Susan Stanton
478 (28%)
