By Brantley Day, Cherokee County Community Development Agency Director
To build a trusted and effective organization that provides the highest level of services for Cherokee residents, the Cherokee County Planning and Zoning Department completed a reorganization on March 1 with new leadership at the helm. The department is one of six within the Community Development Agency. Staff members are responsible for comprehensive long-range planning to guide future development. They also manage the public hearing process for zoning actions before the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners, which gives residents the opportunity to voice their thoughts on specific cases. The department also handles variances and appeals.
Margaret Stallings
Margaret Stallings
Margaret Stallings has been promoted to director of Planning and Zoning. She began working for Cherokee County in 2005 as the planning manager, during which she completed two comprehensive plans and multiple area plans and led the county’s Impact Fee Program. Margaret has worked closely with the community to find solutions to challenges. She earned a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. Before joining the Cherokee County team, Margaret worked as a professional architect.
Kevin Turner
Kevin Turner
Kevin Turner joined the team in February as deputy director. He leads all planning endeavors, including the Comprehensive Plan update slated to begin later this year. His previous experience includes fourteen years with the City of Roswell, where he managed the public hearings process and Zoning Division. Kevin also worked to complete and implement the Unified Development Code and served as the project manager for the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. He holds a master’s in urban and regional planning from Florida State University and a bachelor’s in geography from the University of Georgia.
Thomas Trawick
Thomas Trawick
Thomas Trawick was promoted to Zoning Division manager last fall. He manages all zoning compliance oversight and presents staff reports to the Planning Commission and the Board of Commissioners. Thomas joined the department in 2018 as a senior planner, having previously worked for the Chatham County–Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission. He holds a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Clemson University and a bachelor’s in environmental design from Auburn University.
Dana Spayde & David Greenberg
With Thomas’s promotion, Dana Spayde has been appointed the new senior planner. She completes zoning compliance plan reviews and provides expertise with public hearing cases. She recently served as planner II for the City of Roswell, where she completed zoning compliance reviews. Dana holds a master of heritage preservation and bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University.
After serving as the county planner since December 2016, David Greenberg has been promoted to senior planner. He updates adopted plans and provides technical expertise in the development of planning initiatives. David holds a master of heritage preservation degree from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science from Towson University.
The Community Development Agency is pleased with the reorganization and launch of the new Cherokee County Planning and Zoning Department. The team brings a wealth of education, knowledge, and experience to serve Cherokee County citizens at the highest level, prepare for future challenges, and safeguard the overall quality of life.
Zoning Division responsibilities:
- Rezonings
- Special Use Permits
- Modifications of Zoning Conditions
- Variances
- Ordinance Interpretation
- Plan Review
- Minor Subdivisions
- Sign Permits
- Zoning Certifications
Planning Division responsibilities:
- Annexations
- Comprehensive Plan
- Small Area Plans
- Intergovernmental Coordination
- Waleska Planning
- Research
- Zoning and Thematic Mapping
Guest Contributor Brantley Day
Cherokee County Planning and Zoning Department
1130 Bluffs Parkway, Canton, Georgia 30114
678-493-6101
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Can a music stage with concessions and bathrooms be built on land that is zoned residential be built directly across from our condominium residential development and what are the Codes and Ordinances that protect us?
That’s a good question! You are encouraged to reach out to Margaret Stallings, director of planning and zoning for Cherokee County. 678-493-6101. Or send her an email via the internet at https://www.cherokeega.com/planning-and-zoning/.