During the 2000s, unbridled growth from the Atlanta area eroded much of the natural characteristics of the western portion of Newton County. Exhausted by the recession, development pressure lifted to leave the eastern portion of the county largely agricultural. At this precise moment in time, Newton County is literally straddling the line between urban/suburban and rural.

When development returns, if Newton County’s infrastructure continues to sprawl eastward, we would have every reason to expect the county to continue developing as it has on the western side. We call this the “Status Quo” growth scenario.

Accepting that growth is inevitable, and seeing other communities where growth has been used to create quality communities, Newton County’s civic leaders identified five new compact communities where zoning will allow more growth. This allows our timber and farmland areas to be conserved. The participating agencies have already committed to coordinate new infrastructure, including schools, libraries, and sewer service, to these areas. The 2050 Plan will concentrate 89% of the county’s future population into compact communities on 37% of the county’s land area.

These compact communities will look and feel like small towns, with multi-story buildings, sidewalks, bike trails, and potentially even transit. Children will be able to safely walk to school, and more people will have the option to live, work, and play in the same neighborhood.

Obviously, people will continue to live outside the compact communities, and current buildings will remain where they area. Zoning affects the ability to develop property in the future. By intentionally zoning for higher and lower density, rather than allowing future growth to spread itself evenly across the entire county, future generations will be able to enjoy the best of both parts of Newton County.