Cherokee Middle School students discussed what economic development they need and what assets they would like to preserve.
The corridor along U.S. 441 between the U.S. 74 junction and Cherokee’s business district is expected to attract development interest once sewer lines are installed this summer. A consulting company working with Jackson County commissioners convened public meetings to help develop land preservation strategies and clarify development opportunities.
Area students got to give their two cents worth as students at Cherokee Elementary School, Smokey Mountain Elementary School, Cherokee Middle School and Cherokee High School participated in hands-on workshops about planning and offered opinions on matters such as whether sidewalks or bike lanes should be placed next to the highway, what kinds of setbacks there should be, and what rules should govern signs, parking and other development issues.
The sessions were conducted so that students understand the principles of planning and how communities get built through a mix of collaboration, physical limitations and regulation.
At the Smokey Mountain Elementary educational workshop, fourteen middle school students learned about land preservation and development. Students were taught a brief history lesson about land planning pioneers.
Then they participated in several exercises. They were shown a series of slides that featured two pictures — the first showcased a sign of land development and the other was of a natural landscape. The exercise required the students to pick the photo that stood out the most to them. Students learned there are no simple answers to community development questions, and no right or wrong solutions either.
In the final exercise the students were split into groups. Each one received a large topographic map of the corridor study area and was asked to circle on the map what areas they would preserve and where they would allow commercial and residential development to occur.
