Franklin Springs Looks to Attract New Business With Two Rezoned Properties

The Franklin Springs City Council has voted to annex and rezone two large pieces of property in the hopes of attracting new business and industry.

At their meeting last Thursday evening, the City Council voted first to annex 146 acres on Highway 145/US29 into the city limits.  Later, they voted to zone the property industrial.

The Council also voted to rezone property on Highway 327/Campbell Ridge Road industrial.

Mayor Lee Moore said the area is growing and the goal is to attract good-quality business and industry.

“Our plan is to work with Tonya Powers, the Executive Director of the IBA and work these properties through the state for a potential good industry to come to Franklin Springs. We have some options in Franklin Springs now to help our tax base and also to offset the housing boom in Franklin County with some industrial growth on the southern end of the county,” he said. “That’s what our goal is and that’s the purpose of what we did last night.”

Franklin County is in the beginning stages of what is likely to become a housing boom in the near future with several new subdivisions either being constructed or in the planning stages.

The County is also developing a new zoning map with designated areas, such as heavy industrial, light industrial, residential, and agriculture.

Moore said with the City of Franklin Springs owning these two large pieces of real estate, they have control over what types of businesses will locate there.

“We’re open to the right type of industry. The great thing about it is that we own the properties. So, with us owning the properties we have a lot more authority and a lot more accountability. Now, we can do a lot more due diligence on any industry that’s even interested in coming into Franklin Springs as opposed to someone who owns the property and the City does not own it,” Moore explained.

And with Emmanuel College continuing its growth, Moore said the City hopes to attract businesses willing to work with Emmanuel and North Georgia Tech to train and hire workers.