County study identifies sites for industrial growth, recommends targeted utility and road investments to attract developers

Forsyth County commissioners reviewed a consultant study on Wednesday identifying potential sites across the county for industrial and employment development and outlining the steps needed to make those parcels “shovel‑ready.” HDR (with Jones Lang LaSalle) mapped short‑, mid‑ and long‑term candidate sites, estimated infrastructure costs and suggested policy and zoning approaches to reduce developers’ upfront risk.

Why it matters: Consultants told commissioners that developers are seeking sites with utilities, capacity and straightforward truck access; uncertain or expensive utility and intersection improvements are the main barriers to private investment. The consultants’ central recommendation: lower developers’ up‑front cost and permit risk by strategically extending utilities, clarifying zoning/overlays and planning intersection improvements near candidate sites.

Study scope and major recommendations

- Method and focus: HDR and JLL evaluated environmental constraints, topography, utilities, cultural resources and market demand for four target sectors (advanced manufacturing, life sciences, aviation/aerospace and headquarters). They created an inventory of candidate sites in three categories: short‑term developable (1–3 years), greenfield (3–10 years) and long‑term/10–20+ years, plus redevelopment opportunities in urban areas.

- Shor…