THOMASVILLE — A City of Thomasville planner said proposed West Jackson streetscape projects might require a year to develop plans pleasing to everyone.

Planner Brian Herrmann told a large crowd attending a Monday Thomasville Planning and Zoning meeting city staff met with property owners and business owners along the proposed routes.

“Three major issues came forth,” he said.

Concerns were expressed about ingress and egress at businesses, traffic congestion if fewer lanes and medians are planned and “blight,” such as above-ground utilities, not tackled by the city, Herrmann said.

Herrmann said he thinks a compromise was reached about ingress and egress. A city-generated traffic study showed the stretches of West Jackson in question have three to four times the capacity needed, and the city has decided to “take a look at” utility poles from Madison Street to Remington, he said.

“There’s a great deal of planning and engineering that goes along with all of this,” Herrmann said.

The proposed dual project will serve future generations, the planner pointed out.

He said that an effort is under way to determine the cost of burying utilities.

Special purpose local option sales tax revenues and city operating capital would fund the projects, according to Herrmann.   

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820