Flowery Branch gets tax allocation district

FLOWERY BRANCH - The city of Flowery Branch now has a special tax district to help fund re-development projects.

The city council voted 5-0 Wednesday morning to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Hall County to create a tax allocation district, or TAD.

City Manger Bill Andrew said the district will encompass the area around the I-985 interchange, some areas around Phil Neikro Boulevard and Thurmon Tanner Boulevard and most of Flowery Branch's historic district.

Money generated within the tax district is used to help fund a variety of re-development and infrastructure improvement projects.

Andrew said the county has the ability to review the projects and their participation in them every three years, but the TAD could last for up to 20 years.

This is the first tax allocation district in Flowery Branch, "but Atlanta has had several TADs, and has had quite a bit of success with them," Andrew said.

Revenue generated from a tax allocation district in Atlanta was used to build Atlantic Station.

While Flowery Branch officials are still working on numbers, Andrew said eventually revenues generated in the district will be in the "several million dollar" range.

DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY APPOINTMENTS

Also Wednesday, the city council appointed three new members to its Development Authority: Tom Collins, Chad Hammock and Mark Zupsic.

"The Development Authority is an organization that helps to encourage the development of Flowery Branch, both downtown and, of course, outside of downtown," Councilman Craig Lutz said.

Lutz said the three new members have a good bit of experience.

Zupsic works for Hudson Construction and is a developer. Hammock owns Soil Tech, an erosion control company. And Lutz said Collins, who has lived in the area for a long time, "has a vested interest in seeing this area grow, and grow the right way."

"We're excited about the new people. We're excited about what the Development Authority can do for us in the future," Lutz said.