08/21/2008
Cherokee Tribune
Ashley Fuller

Economic development is the top issue Canton leaders say they want to see addressed during the city’s comprehensive plan update.
Bringing more companies to town and with them new jobs was the focal point of the Canton citizen stakeholder committee meeting on Tuesday night.

The committee, made up of residents and business leaders appointed by the Canton City Council to assist in the update process, will next meet on Aug. 26 at Canton City Hall.

“Growth of jobs is the No. 1″ issue for the committee, said member Hooky Huffman, an insurance agent.

The plan, which the state requires cities and counties to update every 10 years, is a long-range vision for growth and includes a future land-use map, zoning guidelines and infrastructure priorities. City staff plan to submit a completed update to the state by December.

Committee member Mandi Ballinger of Canton, a law firm business manager said the city should be growing “more attractive,” high-paying jobs.

“This city has so much to offer,” she said.

Huffman said he thinks the plan should encourage coordination with the Cherokee County government and Chamber of Commerce and consolidation of the groups associated with downtown Canton.

“We should take the four groups that have similar goals and bring them together to work as one,” he said of the downtown groups.

Creating a theme for marketing the city as a destination is another idea proposed by the stakeholders.

One such concept is to promote the city as a gateway to the Appalachians - with stores geared toward outdoor activities and spots along walking trails to put a canoe into the Etowah River.

Adding more parking in the downtown area and at Heritage Park also are on the stakeholders’ wish list, as is increased code enforcement in older neighborhoods.

“We were laying the groundwork of things that need to be discussed,” Dennis Burnette, president of Cherokee Bank, said of the issues raised.