August 7, 2019 PageSB
iRE13orter
By I)iane Glidewell
news@mymcr.net
Monroe County's neighbor to
the north is being offered a $1.2
billion industrial project that
could change the dynamics of
the region. Doug Adams of LGS
Industrial LLC is proposing a
development with19 distribu-
tion centers plus relatively small
residential and commercial
sections on 1,770 acres at the
northeast quadrant of Exit 205 on
1-75. That's just four exits above
Forsyth.
The area around the exit at
Highway 16 has remained largely
undeveloped in spite of various
plans for it over the years. Most
of the property in the proposed
"River Park East Commerce
Center" development is in Butts
County; about 200 acres is in
Spalding County. The main en-
trance to the industrial park will
be in Butts County across from
Colwell Road, only 1,500 feet off
the interstate.
Adams said the large unde-
veloped tract so close to the
interstate is what makes it perfect
for the industrial development.
He said that with the deepening
of the Savannah port bringing
enormous amounts of goods up
1-75, south of Atlanta has been
identified as a distribution hub.
In response to this designation,
two truck lanes are being built
that extend from Macon to Mc-
Donough.
To be efficient these trucks need
destinations where they can get
offthe interstate and unload as
easily as possible, without going
through a town or dealing with
residential traffic. Adams said this
is the type of planning that was
not done along Highway 42 in
Henry County, for example, and
now makes the large warehouses
there undesirable for the compa-
nies they were intended to attract.
Adams said the sprawling, one-
story buildings are also dinosaurs
because distribution centers are
now more interested in having
room for tractor-trailers and
employees to park. Businesses
want six or seven story buildings
that leave smaller footprints. They
also want a larger position of the
building to include offices. They
want product to go in one side
of the building and out the other
side.
"E-commerce distribution cen-
ters are products of the future"
LGS Industrial, LLC has proposed this $1.2 billion industrial development with 19 distribution centers at Exit 205 in
said Adams. "Existing buildings
can't be retrofitted. That's driving
the needy
Plans for River Park have been
submitted to The Butts County
Planning & Zoning Commission
to request re-zoning and to the
Georgia Department of Com-
munity Affairs tO review regional
impact of the large development.
Adams presented information
about the project to Partners for
Smart Growth, a Butts County
group organized 12 years ago to
promote positive growth in the
community. Tim Abney of KW
Commercial and John Palmer of
Falcon Design Consultants joined
him in the presentation. [Falcon
Design Consultants presented the
low bid to Forsyth to design its
park plan but was not awarded
the contract.] They provided
a diagram of the project, de-
scribed its vision and impact, and
answered questions for about 40
people who attended a 7:30 a.m.
meeting on Friday, July 26.
"This is e-commerce" said Ad-
ams, who lives in Locust Grove
but owns lake and timber prop-
erty in Butts County. "We haven't
seen the tip of the iceberg"
Abney said this project rep-
resents 1.5 percent of the land
in Butts County but has the
potential to double the tax base.
He said it creates a cohesive,
controlled business park that is
85 percent (1,500 acres) focused
on e-commerce. Plans are to use
110 acres on Highway 16 in front
of the industrial park for retail
stores and 89 acres down the road
on the other side of River Park
from 1-75 for a gated residential
community. Abney said he has
worked with Adams on various
projects for 15 years.
Abney estimated a 20-year
build out for the entire River Park
project but said that would give
Butts County $200 million in
property taxes alone.
He said over the life of the
project, it will create 6,000 jobs.
He said jobs in technology dis-
tribution companies now pay an
average of $17 per hour, $35,000
per year.
Charles Barlow asked where
other developments of this type
have been built. Adams said there
are examples in Norcross, John's
Creek and near the Atlanta air-
port. He said one or two e-com-
merce buildings have been built
at several sites around Atlanta but
nothing as large as the plan for
River Park.
Jackson Mayor Kay Pippin
said she knows development is
coming, but developers need to
be held to the high standards
they are promising. She said
there are too many examples
of poor planning in Henry and
Clayton counties and along 1-20
west where logistics centers and
houses are side by side. She said
the poor planning has created
sub-standard housing because no
one wants to live next to industry,
and substandard housing creates
a drain on local services, like
police and fire departments.
Pippin said she visited a
planned community near Hous-
ton and is convinced it isn't nec-
essary to settle for all concrete in
industrial development. Adams
said the River Park plan leaves
200-400 acres undeveloped.
Abney said they plan on a
$312,000 price point for the aver-
age house in the 89-acre residen-
tial development. He said land
planners have recommended
1,000 units for the tract, but they
Butts/Spalding counties.
have pulled that back to 200 and
have proposed a gated commu-
nity.
'Tm not opposed to density
if it's planned well," said Pippin.
"This can be a model for what
will be built on the south side"
Butts County Commissioner
Joe Brown said he has looked at
'the traffic patterns and car and
truck traffic won't mix. Palmer
said with all the different things
coming through the Brunswick
and Savannah ports, River Park
has a large potential to draw
industrial occupants. The truck
lanes make it uniquely situatedto
get on and off the interstate easily
and reach everything you need.
The infrastructure is in place.
"We're excited; we're very green.
We're going to protect natural
resources;' said Palmer.
"I know you are very pro educa-
tion;' said Pippin. "You could do
trainings and other things that '
would put our school system on
the map. It could be a unique-
partnership"
'All of us live locally; we're not
going anywhere" said Adams.
"It's coming. We're not going to
grow trees forever"
By Gilda 5tanbery
An increasingly popular
and fun vacation is the
stay-at-home-vacation, or
the "staycation" Let's admit
it, we probably have spent
more time exploring places
far away than we have the
sites in our own area. This
is natural. People tend to
dismiss local sites or always
assume they will go there
some day. There are bound
to be places around us we
have not explored or activi-
ties we have not tried.
Imagine the benefits of
a staycation: Save money!
There are no airfare, hotel,
or rental car costs. Ac-
cording to an American
Automobile Association
survey, "The average North
American vacation will cost
$244 per day for two people
for lodging and meals. Add
some kids and airfare, and
a 10-dayvacation could top
$10,000"
There are no wasted travel
days -- two more vacation
days for tim!
No travel means no physi-
cal drain. Let's admit it,
travel can be exhausting.
You do not have to spend
your vacation with strang-
ers, either on flights or in
hotels.
It is the green thing to do!
If the weather is lousy,
who cares? Adjust.
No need to board pets -
more money saved! You
can indude them in your
outings too!
A staycation is a green
thing to do! Explore the
-area for green ideas like:
a nature trail, camping at
a site close by, taking bike
trips, fishing, paddling,
kayaking, canoeing, or just
relaxing.
Here are 16 things to get
you started planning your
staycation and #what-
todoinforsythga. Look for
staycation deals all around,
as you #shoplocal and
#eatlocal.
Change it up! Stay in
one of the local hotels and
enjoy the amenities they of-
fer while getting a change of
pace. There is plenty of time
to relax and check out the
swimming pool, exercise
room, in room movies, and
free breakfast many offer.
Forsyth KOA has mini golf
and mining for gems too!
Visit our local museum:
Monroe County Museum
(478-994-5070) has exhibits
in two historic train depots
located at the corner of Ad-
ams and Johnston Streets.
Outside, you will find an
old fire truck, an even older
steam engine, and a newly
installed train sculpture
- great for selfies! Inside
holds the stories of Forsyth
and Monroe County. If you
are looking for more local
history, take a short walk
up Johnston Street and
visit the beautifully restored
Monroe County Court-
house, www.monroecoga.
org
Looking for another
great selfie spot? Across
the street from the depots
is the City of Forsyth's
first mural -- to welcome
you home! Can you find
the hidden green tomato?
' Don't forget to add the
hashtags #sweetlifeforsyth
and #forsyth cvb. Or visit
Hamlin Hills Farm's petting
zoo. (844-386-3276)
Go to a movie. Yes, you
can rent a movie or bor-
row one from the library
(478-994-7025) and have a
movie night at home. Don't
forget the popcorn!
See a show. Check out
Backlot Players perfor-
mances at the Rose Theater
www.thebacklotplayers.
org or what is happening at
the Monroe County Fine
Arts Center www.monroe-
finearts.org
Go shopping. Spend the
day in downtown Forsyth's
shops and boutiques for
that unique one-of-a-kind
experience. While you are
there have lunch at your fa-
vorite, or try a new favorite
restaurant, for a snack or
lunch. Look for staycation
specials all around down-
town Forsyth.
Take a nap. Hey, vaca-
tions are to escape from
daily life and relax. Catch
up on sleep in that ham-
mock or easy chair. It is a
great time for a little aroma-
therapy too!
Get the bike out or take
,
a hike. There are many
miles of dedicated shared
use trails in and around
Forsyth. Pack a picnic
lunch and go explore, Need
to brush up on bike safety?
Pick up your free guide at
the Welcome Center, 68
North Lee St.
Read a book. You don't
have to be sitting in a
faraway place to settle in
with a good summer read.
Pick up the latest best-seller
from the library and head
downtown to one of the
cafes or Lee Street Park.
Splurge on a cappuccino
or other tasty treats, and
spend an hour or two lost
in a book.
Take an exercise class
or spa treatment. Always
wanted to try yoga, Pilates,
spinning, etc.? Maybe you
are ready for a new look
and a little pampering?
Look to the salons on spa
around the Square. Now is
your time!
Concert On the Square.
Forsyth Main Street hosts a
series of free concerts each
summer. It is a good time
to dance, people watch, and
have fun for all ages! www.
cityofforsyth.net/forsyth-
mainstreet
Host a potluck or bar-
becue. Have the extended
family over or host a block
par . Ask everyone to
bring something and share.
Don't miss the Indepen-
dence Day Celebration
held at the Monroe County
Recreation Complex -
complete with food, fun
and lots of fireworks!
Play golf. Even if you're
not an avid golfer, this
is the perfect time to try
it. Forsyth Golf Club is the
perfect course for a relaxing
game or to take a couple of
lessons, www.cityofforsyth.
net If miniature golf is more
your speed, try Forsyth
KOA (478-994-2019). Pan
for gold and gems while
you are there too!
Take a day for High<
Falls. Visit High Falls State
Park, for events: www.
gastateparks.org/highfalls
Visit the shops and res-
taurants around the park
entrance or cool offat the
pool!
Take a little trip to Iu-
liette. Visit the movie set of
Fried Green Tomatoes, eat
at the Whistle Stop Car6,
and visit the shops on Mc-
Cracken Street. While you
are there, look for Buddy's
arm, or take your fishing
pole and visit Juliette Park
on the Ocmulgee River.
Spend time with the
kids. People remember
the good times spent with
each other more than the
places they've been. Get out
a deck of cards or a board
game. Visit the Splash Pad
and Pump Track at the
Country Club Park. Go on
the Forsyth Foxhunt. It is a
downtown based scavenger
hunt of small fox statues
hidden around different
shops, businesses, and his-
toric buildings, taking you
on an adventure through
Forsyth. You can pick up
the clues at the Welcome
Center. This fox hunt is free
and sure to delight all ages!
Spend time talking, laugh-
ing, and reminiscing. Life
is short--spend time with
family!
Staycation ideas are great
for entertaining, visiting
family, and friends too! For
more ideas and a Visi-
tors Guide to relax, shop,
and dine locally, stop by
the Welcome Center at 68
North Lee St. in Forsyth,
or visit the City of Forsyth
Convention & Visitors
Bureau's web site: www.
forsythcvb.com.
The trick to enjoying a
staycation is to deviate from
daffy routines and truly
make it a vacation. If you
enjoy eating out on vaca-
tions, do the same on your
staycation. Skip the laundry
or cleaning the garage. Re-
lax! As odd as it sounds,
bring discipline to the vaca-
tion by not allowing chores
or drudgery to intercede
and take away the fun. Re-
mind yourself that, while
you are at home, you are
on vacation. If you do, your
staycation will be more fun
and relaxing!
Gilda Stanbery is the Ex-
ecutive Director/CEO of the
Oty of Forsyth Convention
and Visitor's Bureau.
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