Powers Ferry Master Plan

Planning Division Staff has released a draft copy of the Powers Ferry Master Plan. The Master Plan starts with the Table of Contents and includes 6 separate elements. This draft version of the plan is intended to be reviewed by the stakeholders, the community and any other interested parties. The Planning Division welcomes any comments and suggestions you may have regarding the Powers Ferry Master Plan.

The Planning Division will request a recommendation from the Planning Commission on March 2, 2010 at 9am. If a recommendation for approval is provided, we will be requesting adoption by the Board of Commissioners on March 23, 2010 at 7 pm.

Powers Ferry Table of Contents

Powers Ferry Executive Summary

Powers Ferry Study Overview

Powers Ferry Existing Conditions

Powers Ferry Market Analysis

Powers Ferry Vision and Guiding Principles

Powers Ferry Recommendations & Implementation

Downloads: BOC Presentation Public Meeting #3 Public Meeting #3 Summary Public Meeting #2 Public Meeting #2 Summary Public Meeting #1 Public Meeting #1 Summary Public Input: Tell us what you think

Project Description:

In February of 2009 District 2 Commissioner Bob Ott along with the rest of the Board of Commissioners authorized the Community Development Agency to develop a corridor study for a section of Powers Ferry Road. The Powers Ferry Road Corridor Study will be a mid-to-long range plan that will ultimately improve the quality of life for residence, employees and visitors of the area by addressing land use, transportation and economic development issues.

The study began in late spring of 2009 and should end in January of 2010. The study area is bounded to the north by Delk Road and the City of Marietta and to the south by Windy Ridge Parkway. The eastern boundary line was strategically chosen to include uses that were not unique to the character of the Powers Ferry Road corridor and the western boundary was terminated along the obvious line of demarcation of I-75.

The study area has excellent access to the interstate highway system and includes a network of five interconnected arterial roadways. In addition, there has been a considerable investment over time in residential, commercial, and office development within the study area. Residential developments blend older more mature Townhome, Condominium developments, and multi-family dwellings with some newer townhomes, condominiums, and single-family detached structures. Commercial development is mostly located along the corridor with direct access to at least one of the five arterial roadways. Retail makes up most of the commercial in the northern half of the study area while the southern end, which includes the Cumberland Community Improvement District, is comprised of mostly high rise office development.

At first glance the corridor appears to be good shape; however a closer examination reveals some residential structures in decline, derelict shopping centers, vacant office buildings, and transportation infrastructure that may be inadequate to deal with vehicle volumes and is unsafe for bicyclists and pedestrians in some areas.  

It is the job of the Planning Division of Community Development to guide the Powers Ferry Road Corridor Study process through various stages that will include a stakeholder committee, public meetings, on-line and business surveys, and public hearings. The intention of these efforts is to create a vision for the future of the corridor and an action plan to address the needs of the residents, businesses, and property owners to help reverse potential deterioration along the corridor. Through this process it is expected that a new future will result for the Powers Ferry Road community, a future that includes innovation and revitalization.