Forsyth County to hold town hall on proposed new city

The logo for the Sharon Springs Alliance, which backs creating a new city in the southern part of Forsyth County.

The logo for the Sharon Springs Alliance, which backs creating a new city in the southern part of Forsyth County.

Forsyth County Commissioners will hold a town hall meeting to hear from the public on the proposed city of Sharon Springs later this month.

Members of the Sharon Springs Alliance who have pushed for incorporation have touted the new city as a means of providing control over long-term planning and development, creating a more accountable government, slowing down critical overcrowding in the schools. and giving city staff and officials more authority over quality-of-life issues. Boundaries of the new city would encompass much of South Forsyth.

A bill currently in the legislative hopper (HB 626) would set up a city with authority in several areas including environmental protection and planning and zoning authority. If it passes, a referendum on creating a new city would go onto the general primary ballot in May.

The town hall is set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Forsyth Conference Center, 341 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming. In addition to the public, several members of the county’s state delegation have gotten an invite.