City of Smyrna 2005 – 2030 Comprehensive Plan Community Assessment Report September 2006 Prepared by: The City of Smyrna Community Development Department Table of Contents Community Assessment ........................................................................................................ 1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 1 Preliminary List of Issues and Opportunities.................................................................. 2 Analysis of Existing Land Uses ........................................................................................... 6 Existing Land Use ................................................................................................................ 6 Areas Requiring Special Attention..................................................................................... 9 Areas Where Development is Likely to Intrude or Otherwise Impact Significant Natural or Cultural Resources .............................................................................................. 9 Areas Where Rapid Development or Change of Land Uses is Likely to Occur ....................... 10 Areas Where the Pace of Development May Outpace the Availability of Community Facilities and Services...................................................................................... 10 Declining or Unattractive Areas, Possibly in Need of Redevelopment ................................... 11 Areas with Significant Infill Development Opportunities ...................................................... 11 Areas Developing Under a Nodal Concept of Growth........................................................... 12 Character Areas.................................................................................................................13 Activity Center.................................................................................................................. 13 Civic ................................................................................................................................. 13 Cooridors .......................................................................................................................... 13 Park, Recreation, Conservation, and Historic ....................................................................... 14 Residential Revitalization................................................................................................... 14 Village Residential............................................................................................................. 14 Regional Activity Center .................................................................................................... 15 Analysis of Consistency with Quality Community Objectives................................... 16 Analysis of Supporting Data .............................................................................................. 23 Population........................................................................................................................... 23 A Growing Population ....................................................................................................... 23 Age Trends........................................................................................................................ 23 Increased Diversity ............................................................................................................ 24 Rising Income Levels......................................................................................................... 25 Economic Development ...................................................................................................... 26 Economic Base.................................................................................................................. 26 Total Employment......................................................................................................... 26 Sector Employment ....................................................................................................... 27 Sub-Sector Employment ................................................................................................ 28 Business Size ................................................................................................................ 29 Labor Force ....................................................................................................................... 30 Labor Force Participation............................................................................................... 30 Unemployment.............................................................................................................. 31 Commuting Patterns ...................................................................................................... 32 Occupations .................................................................................................................. 32 Source of Income .......................................................................................................... 33 Wages .......................................................................................................................... 34 Community Assessment Report i City of Smyrna Comprehensive Plan 2005 - 2030 Sector Wages ................................................................................................................ 34 Educational Attainment.................................................................................................. 35 Economic Trends ............................................................................................................ 35 Sector Employment Trends ............................................................................................ 35 Sub-Sector Trends ......................................................................................................... 36 Major Employers........................................................................................................... 37 Important New Developments ........................................................................................ 39 Unique Economic Situations .......................................................................................... 40 Economic Resources .......................................................................................................... 40 Downtown Smyrna Development Authority.................................................................... 41 Downtown Development/Main Street Manager ............................................................... 41 Georgia Power Company ............................................................................................... 41 Cobb County Chamber of Commerce ............................................................................. 42 Economic Development Incentives................................................................................. 42 Tax Allocation District .................................................................................................. 42 Housing ............................................................................................................................... 26 Stock and Mix ................................................................................................................... 43 Conditions......................................................................................................................... 44 Vacancy and Tenure........................................................................................................... 44 Costs and Affordability ...................................................................................................... 44 Overburdened Households.................................................................................................. 46 Special Housing Needs....................................................................................................... 48 Jobs-Housing Balance ........................................................................................................ 49 Natural and Cultural Resources....................................................................................... 51 Environmental Planning Criteria.......................................................................................... 51 Water Supply Watersheds .............................................................................................. 51 Wetlands....................................................................................................................... 51 Groundwater Recharge Areas......................................................................................... 51 Protected River Corridors............................................................................................... 51 Protected Mountains...................................................................................................... 52 Environmentally Sensitive Areas ..........................................................................................52 Public Water Supply...................................................................................................... 52 Steep Slopes.................................................................................................................. 52 Floodplains 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