Smart Growth Forsyth County, Inc

05/17/2026

Interested in learning more about trees in our area? Here is a fun chance to do so. 

If you are interested in learning more about trees and the importance of native species, you are invited to join Forsyth County Master Naturalist Extension Volunteers for a scheduled walk around some natural areas in the county. Each walk will be preceded by a brief talk to acquaint attendees with t...

05/06/2026

Sorry for the late notice:

There's a library session on Tree Identification and Its Benefits - With a UGA Extension Master Gardener.

Come learn about tree identification to make informed tree choices!

Tonight Wednesday, May 06: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Denmark Library - Denmark Meeting Room
Age group: Adults

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day 2026!!

Let's celebrate local action with Keep Forsyth County Beautiful’s Great FoCo Cleanup, running through Earth Day. You can grab a bag, pick up litter in your neighborhood, and help keep our roads and waterways clean. Then drop collected bags at one of the County’s three recycling convenience centers.

Mark your calendar for the Household Hazardous Waste Recycling & Disposal event (May 2) to safely dispose of paints, chemicals, batteries, and electronics.

Useful Community links/resources:

• Great FoCo Cleanup info + participation details (KFCB):
https://www.forsythco.com/News/the-great-foco-cleanup-kicks-off-march-23

• Forsyth County Recycling Convenience Centers (locations + accepted materials + hours):
https://www.forsythco.com/Departments-Offices/Recycling-Solid-Waste/Recycling-Centers

• Household Hazardous Waste event (May 2):
https://www.forsythco.com/News/registration-to-recycle-hazardous-waste-opens-april-13


• Keep Forsyth County Beautiful events calendar (ongoing volunteer opportunities):
https://www.keepforsythcountybeautiful.org/events

Keep Forsyth County Beautiful (KFCB) welcomes everyone to take part in the Great FoCo Cleanup by helping remove litter from the community’s roadways between March 23 and April 22.

04/07/2026

Water. Bipartisan.

Thank you to U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff for delivering $750,000 in bipartisan funding for the Chattahoochee River Act, kickstarting planning for water infrastructure upgrades and projects throughout the river basin. CRK looks forward to engaging with and learning more from the US Army Corps of Engineers and Trust for Public Land as we all work to begin identifying projects to improve water quality and access to the river. https://www.ossoff.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sen-ossoff-delivering-funding-through-historic-chattahoochee-river-act-for-water-infrastructure-project-planning/

02/23/2026

If you support preserving our clean waterways in GA, please send in this link to help protect them from new legislation that threatens to remove protections of the Clean Water Act.

Protect Georgia's environment, water, and property rights. Take Action Today!

02/11/2026

Smart Growth Forsyth County played a key role in coaching residents through this process, from the first discovery of an unacknowledged stream on the original plan, to mobilizing neighbors for public hearings and helping frame constructive feedback and follow-ups, helping shape the discussion, underscore environmental concerns, and advocate for thoughtful adjustments. We all should remain committed to supporting responsible development that respects Forsyth County’s character, natural resources, native forest and wildlife, and long-term sustainability.

Plans for a 90-lot subdivision just west of Cu***ng call for more than half of its acreage be protected amid residents’ concerns for natural spaces.

02/04/2026

Here's something to cheer you up after the Groundhog Day news...
Announcing…..The KFCB Tree Giveaway!
February 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Polo Fields Barn

In honor of our nation's 250th birthday this year and in order to increase our county’s tree canopy, KFCB is giving away 250 native trees! Forsyth County residents may select from the following types of trees (1 per family please):

3 gallon White Fringe
5 gallon Service Berry
5 gallon Eastern Red Bud

Learn more and register for your free tree here! https://bit.ly/3NZgABJ

11/16/2025

Written in response to an article posted on a substack page of Hank Sullivan, who is a candidate for Forsyth County Commissioner in District 1.

On occasion, the team at Smart Growth comes across articles and Facebook posts of interest to their mission of keeping Forsyth County a great place to live, work and play, a mission that has been at the organization's core since 2005.

Mr. Sullivan's posting of an article he originally wrote in 2018 caught the attention of SGFC, not so much for lamenting South Forsyth's unfettered growth and the ails which accompanied that - traffic, concrete, housing developments where homes are built closely together with only one tree in the front yard, etc., issues we all can agree upon. Rather, Smart Growth members were dismayed at Sullivan's misrepresentation of an unaffiliated, local, citizen-led group that has worked consistently over the last 20 years to ensure that Forsyth County government uphold and improve upon its standards for development, a task that has not always been easy. It was Smart Growth that protected an intermittent stream on Peachtree Parkway, forcing a big box retailer to move the location of its first store in the southern part of the county to one that was more suitable. It was Smart Growth, meeting with a big box retailer in what is now known as The Collection, that fought for the Peachtree Parkway Overlay District design standards to be upheld, against the majority of the Planning Commission at that time. It was and is Smart Growth and its members that have worked tirelessly on the County's Tree Ordinance, Unified Development Code and Comprehensive Plan. It was and is Smart Growth bringing the County's attention to the Big Creek Watershed and the limitation of development therein; a watershed that sits squarely in this county and provides Roswell with its drinking water; a watershed that must be preserved and protected.

Smart Growth Forsyth is a small, yet dedicated group of Forsyth County citizens, not a part of any large national organization, trying to make a difference in their corner of the world. As a candidate for the Board of Commissioners of Forsyth County, we welcome Mr. Sullivan to attend our December 8th Meeting at the United Way in Cu***ng, beginning at 5p.

Sincerely,
Claudia Castro
SGFC Member at large

10/13/2025

A new residential development is taking place in the midst of our existing small lake community. During the zoning process with the county, Commissioner Semanson included a condition to make sure the State Waters Undisturbed Buffer rules would be followed. After the approval, the developer's engineered plan intentionally (IMHO) showed the State Waters buffer to be IN the water rather than next to the water. By the time I was able to convince the FC Engineering department that this was being done, the entire natural buffer which included many large trees was cleared all the way down to the water line. The developer also "accidentally" removed several large trees on an existing homeowners property that were clearly marked in a tree save area. As a result, the developer will now have a clear view of the lake from the balcony of the house he will be moving into. He will receive a minimal fine, and have to replant with some saplings. FORSYTH COUNTY NEEDS TO DRASTICALLY INCREASE FINES TO CREATE A REALISTIC INCENTIVE TO PREVENT DISTURBING BUFFERS THAT HAVE NOT OBTAINED A VARIANCE!

07/26/2025

SGFC volunteers discovered an undocumented stream on residential zoning ZA 4229 on Kelly Mill Rd. just prior to the Public Hearing. FC Engineering immediately confirmed the stream location and the hearing was postponed to allow for a reworking of the plan to provide the stream buffers. This is what happens when the developer hires the surveyor and FC doesn't check the site thoroughly. We can only imagine how much of this goes on with developments in FC that go unchecked.

06/10/2025

Members of SGFC plant and dedicate a Red Oak tree to the late FC Commissioner Molly Cooper at Historic Pooles Mill Park for her work with us to improve the county Tree Ordinance and make Forsyth County a better place to live.