Community News

Jackson County at ground zero, Norton says

NOW IS THE time for Jackson County "to decide what you are going to be when you grow up," says the area’s leading expert on growth and growth trends.

Frank Norton Jr., president of The Norton Agency, spoke to members of the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce, his 12th consecutive annual presentation.

While Norton is known best for dealing in data – housing starts, land sales, number of subdivision lots approved, Census figures – throughout Northeast Georgia, he focused on the protection or enhancement of quality of life as Jackson County experiences one of the highest growth rates in America.

"The decisions you make for Jackson County today will blueprint the county for the next 50 years, so make the wisely," Norton said, calling Jackson County "Ground Zero" for growth coming our of Gwinnett County.

As he did when he spoke to the Commerce City Council in December, Norton told about an "idea safari" to Ft Collins, Colo., which was recently declared the best place to live by Money Magazine. Norton told his audience that 15 years ago, facing growth generated by Denver, community business leaders conducted their own "idea safari," asked questions, solicited ideas, involved the government and built Ft. Collins into a community regarded for it’s quality of life.

"The government didn’t pay for it. The community sent out these idea safaris," Norton pointed out. "We can do certain things over the next 15 years to move us to the number one place to live in the country."

Getting to that point is the challenge. Among the goals, Norton said, should be:

A wide range of prices for housing, from affordable housing to upscale housing. "We have to have multiple house price points to attract a variety of folks," he declared. He lamented that housing prices in Forsyth County are so high that most of the executives who live there work outside the county, while most of the blue-collar workers in Forsyth live outside the county. "The firemen, the police officers, the teachers all have to live in the surrounding counties," he said.
To grow existing businesses to provide better jobs for people who already live in Jackson County.
To focus on quality developments. "Quality developments make money," Norton said, calling the zoning and building conditions and standards "very important" to maintaining a high quality of life.
Maintaining a recreational lifestyle, including the preserving of trees. "People escape from Gwinnett County for your trees and rolling farmland," Norton said.
Maintaining the "soul" of communities. Norton expressed appreciation in Commerce, Jefferson, Braselton and Hoschton.
Development of more retail sales. Norton estimated that Jackson County residents spend 85 percent of their money out of the county. "How can you build infrastructure if people don’t shop at home?” he asked. “The elephant we need to hunt is retail. Attracting retail is as vital as attracting Toyota." A Wal-Mart, said Norton, generates enough sales tax money every three years to build a new elementary school.

Norton came back to his "idea safari" theme, suggesting that government and business should find out what other areas are doing.

"All high-growth markets have the same issues. We are not alone," he said. "We have a sister community out there who is going through the same thing. It’s probably out of state."

Norton also reminded his audience that while growth pressures are substantial and change has been rapid, it is only beginning.

"Jackson County is a blank canvas," he said. "This community is less than 10 percent built out today, and we’re at 65,000 (population) today."