Screven County Community Assessment Joint Comprehensive Plan 2008 - 2028 Screven County Screven County and Towns of Hiltonia, Newington and Rocky Ford, and City of Oliver Joint Comprehensive Plan 2008 to 2028 Community Assessment Prepared by: 127 F Street Brunswick, Georgia 31520 Telephone (912) 264-7363 Website: www.coastalgeorgiardc.org Screven County and Towns of Hiltonia, Newington and Rocky Ford, and City of Oliver Joint Comprehensive Plan Community Assessment Screven County Board of Commissioners Stan Sheppard, Chairman Will Boyd, Commissioner Gregg Ellison, Commissioner Mickey Evans, Commissioner Dennis Lawton, Commissioner J. C. Warren, Commissioner Roland Stubbs, Commissioner Hiltonia Town Council Oliver City Council Gerry Forehand, Mayor Justine Brown, Mayor Vivian Forehand, Council member Marvin Mock, Council Member Mary Williams, Council member Early Milton, Council Member Eddie Walker, Council member Gary Curtis, Council Member Johnny Holmes, Council member Barbara Lee, Council Member Jerald Newton, Council Member Kathy Weinrick, Council Member Ethel Cooper, Council Member Newington Town Council Rocky Ford Town Council J. Donald Scott, Mayor James W. Hankinson, Mayor Jeanette Clay, Council Member Thad Simmons, Council Member Albert S. Perkins, Council Member Ralph Mock , Council Member Alvin J. “Jack” Mock, Jr., Council Member Barry Durdan, Council Member Jean Perkins, Council Member Fred Ruffin, Council Member Ed Spirko, Council Member Larry Ward, Council Member Screven County Joint Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Stan Sheppard, Chairman, Screven County Roland Stubbs, Commissioner, Screven County Gerry Forehand, Mayor, Town of Hiltonia J. Donald Scott, Mayor, Town of Newington Justine Brown, Mayor, City of Oliver James Hankinson, Mayor, Town of Rocky Ford Rick Jordan, Screven County Manager Nancy Edenfield, Screven County Chamber of Commerce Gayle Boykin, Screven County Economic Development Authority Dr. Whit Myers, Superintendent, Screven County Schools Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center Project Team Allen Burns Executive Director Tricia Reynolds, AICP Director of Planning & Government Services Planning & Government Services Staff Eric VanOtteren, AICP, Senior Planner Patricia Barefoot, Historic Preservation Planner Michele Canon, Planner II J. Paul Sansing, Planner I Ron Sadowski, GIS Technician Reggie Allen, Assistant GIS Technician Administrative Services Staff Colletta Harper, Administrative Services Director Rachel Green, Secretary Beth Kersey, Administrative Secretary Screven County Joint Comprehensive Plan Component One: Community Assessment Hiltonia, Newington, Oliver, Rocky Ford Draft: i Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................. I PART I. COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................ 1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Screven County ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Comprehensive Planning in the State of Georgia ...................................................................................... 2 2 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Screven County ......................................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Town of Hiltonia ....................................................................................................................................... 4 2.3 Town of Newington .................................................................................................................................. 5 2.4 City of Oliver ............................................................................................................................................ 5 2.5 Town of Rocky Ford ................................................................................................................................. 5 3 Potential Issues and Opportunities ............................................................................................................... 7 3.1 Screven County ......................................................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Town of Hiltonia ....................................................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Town of Newington ................................................................................................................................ 11 3.4 City of Oliver .......................................................................................................................................... 12 3.5 Town of Rocky Ford ............................................................................................................................... 13 4 Existing Development Patterns ................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Existing Land Use ................................................................................................................................... 16 4.2 Proposed Character Areas and Areas Requiring Special Attention ......................................................... 16 4.3 Screven County Character Areas ............................................................................................................. 17 4.4 Town of Hiltonia Character Areas .......................................................................................................... 17 4.5 Town of Newington Character Areas ...................................................................................................... 18 4.6 City of Oliver Character Areas ................................................................................................................ 18 4.7 Town of Rocky Ford Character Areas ..................................................................................................... 18 4.8 Areas Requiring Special Attention .......................................................................................................... 18 5 Quality Community Objectives ................................................................................................................... 29 5.1 Screven County ....................................................................................................................................... 29 5.2 Town of Hiltonia ..................................................................................................................................... 30 5.3 Town of Newington ................................................................................................................................ 30 5.4 City of Oliver .......................................................................................................................................... 31 5.5 Town of Rocky Ford ............................................................................................................................... 31 6 Supporting Analysis of Data and Information .......................................................................................... 33 6.1 Existing Development Patterns ............................................................................................................... 33 Screven County Joint Comprehensive Plan Component One: Community Assessment Hiltonia, Newington, Oliver, Rocky Ford 6.2 Population ................................................................................................................................................ 34 6.3 Housing ................................................................................................................................................... 36 6.4 Economic Development .......................................................................................................................... 37 6.5 Natural and Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................... 39 6.6 Community Facilities and Services ......................................................................................................... 39 6.7 Intergovernmental Coordination .............................................................................................................. 39 iii Screven County Joint Comprehensive Plan Component One: Community Assessment Hiltonia, Newington, Oliver, Rocky Ford Acknowledgements The development of a comprehensive plan is a significant endeavor. The journey could not have come this far without the contribution of many individuals that are committed to the prosperous future of Screven County and the Towns of Hiltonia, Newington and Rocky Ford, and the City of Oliver. It is difficult to recognize everyone who has given of their time and knowledge. The writers wish to express their appreciation for the assistance given by many individuals, and agencies for which there is not space to individually acknowledge their contributions. The Coastal Georgia Regional Development