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Published Thursday, August 21, 2008 in Local

Support resolutions gathered for scenic byway

By Jeff Bishop

The Newnan Times-Herald

The McIntosh Trail Historic Preservation Society (MTHPS) -- which covers the counties of Butts, Spalding, Fayette, Coweta and Carroll -- is working with the Georgia Department of Transportation to designate a scenic byway route that will stretch across Coweta County and through downtown Newnan, Sharpsburg and Senoia.

A big part of their plan includes gaining letters of support from local governments, agencies and community groups. At a meeting near Griffin at the Double Cabins Monday night, group members said they are well on their way to achieving that goal, which is one of the requirements of the application process.

Leslie Hollberg, president of the MTHPS, said that she's obtained letters of support from officials in Griffin and Spalding County.

"We now have everything we need from Griffin and Spalding," she said. "In Griffin it passed by a unanimous vote."

Nancy Roy, representing Coweta County with Joanne Utt, said that they have now obtained letters of support from the Coweta County Commission, the City of Senoia, the City of Sharpsburg, the Coweta County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, the Senoia Area Historical Society, and other groups.

"We still have to get one from the town of Turin," said Roy.

Last week, members of the Newnan City Council approved a resolution supporting the MTHPS's proposed byway. The byway would run through Newnan beginning on East Newnan Road, then travel from East Broad Street to the Court Square, circling left around the courthouse before returning to East Court Square. The route will continue north on East Court Square until it becomes Jefferson Street, then to Clark Street and Temple Avenue until it becomes Ga. Hwy. 27 Alt./16.

This varies from the true historic route, which ran from Turkey Creek Road to the area along what is now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, then somewhere between Greenville and LaGrange streets to Spring Street, ultimately emerging on present-day Temple Avenue north of town.

A scenic byway, according to the MTHPS, is defined as "any designated... route which significantly features certain intrinsic qualities that should be protected or enhanced," which are usually historic, cultural, or scenic in nature. Usually billboards are limited along scenic byway routes.

The first goal of the society is to "make the public aware of this historic trail and propose to the Georgia DOT to designate it a scenic byway."

Sandra Parker, Coweta's comprehensive land planner, and Tavores Edwards, Coweta's transportation planner, have traveled the proposed trail and had input in planning the route through Coweta, according to Roy. Newnan City Planning Director Tracy Dunnavant has also worked with the county planners and the MTHPS during the planning stages.

Representatives from both the Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Development Center and the Georgia DOT have looked at the proposed scenic byway and seem to be in favor, according to Roy.

Roy explained to the council that this proposal has garnered a lot of local support and interest, and the Georgia DOT has requested the MTHPS obtain resolutions of support from each municipality that would be affected by the byway.

"We have an awful lot to offer for a byway, and this would be a major tourism mechanism for our county," said Roy. She added that the byway would bring people interested in nature, shopping and historic ventures.

"This is a very exciting endeavor for our area," she continued.

If the Georgia DOT designates the proposed route a scenic byway, it would provide the signage for the route and publish the byway information in all state maps.

Newnan Mayor Keith Brady questioned Roy about the cost to the city to sponsor the byway. That would be up to the city, Roy said.

Hollberg said Monday that the group is pleased with its progress but "we're still trying to get more letters of support."

The more the better, she said, since a broad demonstration of community support is needed to push the application through.

Sinclair Hollberg said Fayette County seems supportive and he plans to get on the commission's upcoming agenda to get that support in writing.

Carroll County has already voiced its support for the route, and so has the city of Brooks.

"So we're in good shape," said Mrs. Hollberg.

"Our next step will be to go to all the folks who live along the route and ask them for their support, as well," said Mr. Hollberg. "We have to contact every one of them."

(Times-Herald staff writer Elizabeth Richardson contributed to this story.)