ross COfficial newsletter R ads of the April 2008 INSIDE THIS ISSUE… Come Party Suwanee rolls out in de Park…p. 4 the red carpet....p. 11 Art on a Limb blooms along Tour de Suwanee Greenway...p. 8 When the 120 athletes participating in the 2008 Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T begin Stage 5 in Suwanee Friday morn- ing, April 25, they will have pedaled through about half of their nearly 600-mile Road map to 2030 course across the state of Georgia. The “challenging” news for the riders is that the Stage 5 course, the first of two back-to-back mountain stretches, is this year’s longest, nearly drawn covering approximately 133 miles as the peloton pedals its way to Dahlonega. The The City of Suwanee is poised to dot following day, riders will climb Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest the final “i” and cross the final “t” on its “Every year, the riders talk about the peak at 4,784 feet. 2030 Comprehensive Plan/Community incredible enthusiasm of the fans who “The Tour de Georgia is a Agenda. First, though, there remains one final opportunity for community feedback: cheer them on along their route.” signature international event – many of the world’s top cyclists a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, –Mayor Dave Williams will be in Georgia that week tak- April 22, at the Crossroads Center. A draft ing on our state’s challenging, of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, a citizen- varied terrain,” notes Mayor Dave Williams. “But it’s even more than that. The Tour driven vision created through a 10-month de Georgia is a stand-out event also because of the amazing fans. Every year, the rid- collaborative process, is available for review ers talk about the incredible enthusiasm of the fans who cheer them on along their online at www.suwanee.com. route. I know that Suwanee residents will want to be part of the thrill that is the Building upon the new directions Tour de Georgia.” established through the 2020 town master Take the shuttle The Suwanee-Dahlonega plan (adopted in 2000), the 2030 stage start will begin at 10 a.m. Comprehensive Plan creates a community No parking will be available at Town Center Park at Town Center Park, 370 vision that aims to balance Suwanee’s resi- the morning of April 25. Free shuttle transporta- Buford Highway. Local fans dential, small-town feel with continued tion between offsite parking locations and Town and those who follow the race commercial, employment, and economic Center will be provided from 7:45-11 a.m. across the state will find several development opportunities. The plan will Offsite parking locations: good viewing locations along guide how Suwanee develops over the next • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the first portion of the day’s 10 years at least. 4833 Suwanee Dam Road route within the Suwanee City For the first time in Suwanee’s history, • Shadowbrook Baptist Church limits. according to the plan, future growth, to a 4187 Suwanee Dam Road Continued on page 2 Continued on page 3 Page 2 April 2008 www.suwanee.com Tour de Georgia…continued from page 1 From Town Center, riders representing 15 teams will zigzag their way up Brogdon Road, turning onto Tench Road and pedaling by Level Creek Elementary School, where they’ll be greeted enthusiastically by many of the school’s 1,200 students, before turning onto Suwanee Dam Road. The riders will then come back by Town Center Park as they head south on Buford Highway and then west on McGinnis Ferry Road. As they cross the Chattahoochee River, the peloton will have ridden nearly six miles through Suwanee. “We’re really excited to have these professional riders go by Level Creek Elementary,” says Dr. Nancy Kiel, principal of the school. “For the kids to see these international athletes and get a sense of the hard work and commitment that it takes to be a world- class cyclist – that’s a great example for the children.” The 2008 Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T features seven stages, beginning in Tybee Island April 21 and ending in Atlanta April 27. North America’s premier professional cycling event and a rolling festi- val of community activities, the Tour de Georgia ben- efits the Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. A great excuse to take a Friday off Go ahead and let the boss know that you’re taking the morning of April 25 off. He or she will certainly under- stand – after all, catching a stage start of an internationally recognized sporting event in your own “front yard” is a can’t-miss opportunity. Below are some recommended viewing locations along the six-mile Tour de Georgia route in Suwanee. Be sure to be in place by 10 a.m. While these athletes will be in “neu- tral” for much of the Suwanee route, they won’t be dilly-dallying by any means. • Town Center Park Not only do the riders take off from Town Center, they’ll be coming back by a second time on their way to Lumpkin County. In addition, there will be an array of festivities at the park and an opportunity to mingle with riders in “autograph alley” before the race start. • Brogdon Road The sidewalk along much of the west side of the road provides a vantage point that will be more subdued than the festive Town Center Park. Here, viewers can watch the riders climb their first hill of the day. • Tench Road between Brogdon Road and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Closer to the PIB intersection, viewers will be able to get a great look and a great photo of the peloton as it crests the hill. • Please avoid Tench Road near Level Creek Elementary School so that students there will be able to see the professional cyclists. • McGinnis Ferry Road between Buford Highway and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard By the time they make it this far, the riders will have been given the green light to shift into high gear. The sidewalk along the north side of McGinnis Ferry will provide a safe vantage point to watch the blur of furiously pedaling athletes ride by. Page 3 www.suwanee.com April 2008 …continued from page 1 Road map to 2030 large degree, is likely to be via redevelopment rather than on previously undeveloped sites. Much of the City’s future growth is envisioned in three distinct areas: Suwanee Gateway, Town Center, and in nodes along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. The plan divides the entire City into 10 distinct character areas and describes expected, desired growth in each of the areas. Many of the areas, including most existing neighborhoods, are expected to experi- ence little, if any, significant changes. “This plan not only defines areas where bold changes are expected, indeed encouraged,” says Planning Director Josh Campbell. “It also, signifi- cantly, identifies those areas that need to be pre- served and not change very much.” SUWAN EE, GEORGIA 2030 CO MPR EHEN SI VE PLA N C O MMUNI T Feb Y A G ruary, 2008 EN D A prepare d for The Ci ty of Suwane e by Urban C ollage, Inc. a nd Coyne P lanning Asso ciates, LLC. Page 4 April 2008 www.suwanee.com Party in de Park The Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T has a reputation for being more than just a great professional bicycle race. It’s also known as a spirited rolling festival. The City of Suwanee is planning an array of events that will ensure that the Stage 5 start in Suwanee lives up to its lively reputation. The race is slated to begin at 10 a.m. Friday, April 25, but Suwanee events will begin a full week before- hand. Things really heat up Thursday evening, April 24, with a free concert and other festivities, and, of course, there will be lots of fun and excitement as race time approaches Friday morning. A course set up along the Suwanee Creek Greenway, beginning at Martin Farm Road and concluding at Suwanee Creek Park, will mimic the seven stages of America’s premier professional cycling event. Tour de Suwanee Creek Greenway: It’s 5 o’clock somewhere Jimmy Buffett tribute band A1A will perform April 17-24 in Suwanee April 24. A course set up along the Suwanee Creek Win these wheels Greenway, beginning at Martin Farm Road Those who complete the Tour de Suwanee Greenway and concluding at Suwanee Creek Park, will will have a chance to win mimic the seven stages of America’s premier this Fuji bicycle, donated by professional cycling event. Those who com- Suwanee Creek Bicycles. plete (preferably on bicycle) each of the mock Tybee Island to Atlanta stages that comprise the Tour de Suwanee Creek Greenway during the week preceding the Suwanee Tour de Georgia start will be eligible to win a Fuji mountain bicycle ($350 value). The bicycle, donat- ed by Suwanee Creek Bicycles, will be raffled at Party in de Park festivities on April 24. To participate in the Tour de Suwanee Creek Greenway and qualify for the bicycle raffle, cut out and complete the course card on the next page. Each stage of the Tour de Suwanee Creek Greenway will be marked with a sign that provides a key phrase. Enter each key phrase on your card and turn the card into City Hall, Suwanee Creek Bicycles, or drop it off at the stage during the April 24 Party in de Park event before 7 p.m.