Bryan County residents reveal biggest needs, wants for Blueprint Bryan 2045
Over the last year, residents in Bryan County have met with local officials to provide feedback for the county’s comprehensive plan. Workshops were held to gather information from residents for Blueprint Bryan 2045, a map that shows where potential commercial, industrial and residential areas could be developed in what is called “character areas”.
On both ends of the county, more greenspace for walking and biking highlighted input from the workshops. Preservation of the county’s natural habitat, as well as preserving historic Pembroke and managing traffic woes on Harris Trail Road were among key concerns.
The workshop also revealed school, small-town character and location in coastal Georgia are the top three reasons residents enjoy living in Bryan County. Traffic was listed as the highest priority. When it comes to economic development, residents desire more retail shops and restaurants and less industrial.
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Workshops were held in August 2022 and May 2023. Now, local officials are going through the results to determine what will be the best fit for the county.
Here is what to know.
Harris Trail Road
Richmond Hill has pockets of traffic congestion and none are more significant than Harris Trail Road. The street sees high levels of traffic at the intersection of U.S. 17. From January 2017 to July 2022, there have been more than 150 accidents on Harris Trail Road, according to an accident location report provided by the Richmond Hill Police Department. Bryan County Chairman Carter Infinger said the roadway will see some shoulder work in the future.
But residents like Keith McCants want to see more done to the narrow street.
“The traffic on Harris Trail Road is a concern of mine,” said McCants. “It’s too narrow for the amount of traffic. I would like to see it widened. With new residential housing being built down there, that road won’t be able to hold up with increased traffic.”
Downtown Pembroke
Known as a “historic railroad town”, Pembroke’s downtown scene is reminiscent of the 1950s. The Bryan County courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Tos Theater is a movie house that opened in the 1930s and the railroad itself goes through the middle of town.
Residents say preserving historic Pembroke is a must.
“Pembroke has a delineated historic district that covers the downtown corridor along with some historic homesteads stretching just beyond the downtown area,” said City Manager Chris Benson. “Our main goals when it comes to cultural and historic resources are to protect, revitalize and promote what makes Pembroke unique and gives it a sense of place.”
Hendrix Park
It has been more than a year since a deadly tornado ripped through Ellabell and destroyed Hendrix Park, a beloved place for outdoor recreation. Residents are calling for an expansion as part of the park rebuild to add more opportunities for leisure activity.
At the top of their wish list are pickleball courts, disc golf and a better walking path.
“The No. 1 goal at this time is to rebuild all of the amenities that were in Hendrix Park before the tornado destroyed much of the park,” said Matthew Kent, the public information officer for Bryan County. “The gym and other structures are estimated to be rebuilt before the end of 2024 and then we assess any additional improvements that can be made with the available space.”
The county commissioners are expect to adopt the final plan this fall.
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: bryan county's comprehensive plans addresses community needs, wants
