Qualla community members will have the opportunity to weigh in on Jackson County’s U.S. 441 corridor study.

With the completion date for the Whittier sanitary sewer plant approaching, county commissioners have decided to take a proactive approach to handle the potential commercial growth along this rural corridor. Commissioners have hired a private firm to develop a land-use and design plan for the four-lane roadway leading visitors to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway and downtown Cherokee.

A vital part of the study is three public work sessions on Jan. 21, 23 and 24 at the Qualla Community Center located along Creek Church Loop.

A Raleigh based consulting firm, Kimley-Horn and Associates, has been developing a preliminary design of the corridor, which stretches from the U.S. 74 junction to the Qualla Boundary’s business district. The firm has been looking at various ways to manage transportation, land design, community design and preserving the environment while at the same time not limiting growth. County officials are trying to prevent traffic congestion and unsightly commercial development like that along N.C. 107 out of Sylva or Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tenn.

County commissioners — along with a nine-member appointed advisory committee composed of community members — have been offering suggestions as to what they envision the corridor’s appearance. But local leaders want to hear from residents.

County leaders are encouraging area residents to come out and participate in the three-day event.

“It’s in the community’s best interest to come out and decide what they want their community to look like in 15 to 20 years after development has occurred,” Jackson County Planner Linda Cable said. “I think it’s in everybody’s best interest to plan for development.”

The public work sessions will address the following topics:

• At 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 21 residents will be able to help develop a vision for the study area and identify key issues and opportunities that will be critical to the success of the plan.

• At the second work session on Jan. 23, also at 5:30 p.m., residents will have a chance to review the initial design concepts and provide feedback, which will be used to refine the final design.

• The final session on Jan. 24 will feature a presentation that summarizes all the recommendation made for the study area. This meeting also begins at 5:30 p.m.

For more information about the public meetings contact Cable at 828.631.2261.

— By Jennifer Garlesky