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Dawson County development authority outlines Burke Creek site plan, projects up to 600 new jobs
Summary
Development authority chair Jerry Allen presented a concept for a 76-acre Burke Creek site in Dawsonville, detailing completed environmental and geotechnical work, a $9.4 million infrastructure estimate and projections of 200–600 new jobs with roughly $14 million in annual local economic activity if fully built out.
Jerry Allen, chair of the Burke Creek Road Property Development Authority, told the Dawson County Board of Commissioners during its March 20 work session that the authority has completed early studies and produced a concept plan for a roughly 76-acre site bounded by Burke Creek and Shoal Creek in Dawsonville.
"This is my 2nd year as the chair for the development authority," Allen said, introducing the Q1 economic update and the Burke Creek project overview. He said the authority completed a Phase 1 environmental site assessment, a wetland delineation, historical and archeological desktop reports, and preliminary geotechnical services for the property.
The concept plan shown to commissioners included five buildings totaling about 204,000 square feet on a pad-ready 48-acre footprint. Allen said total development and infrastructure costs, including sewer, water and road site development with a 10% contingency, are projected at about $9,400,000.
Allen outlined tax and job projections tied to the concept: a pad-ready site could add roughly $22,500 to the county tax digest initially, and completion of a full build-out could raise that to about $130,000 a year. He said a 200,000–300,000 square-foot build-out could yield between 200 and 600 new jobs over the next decade, with average earnings for the targeted industry in the $50,000–$75,000 range. "Based on that number, the average earnings for the type of industry that we're looking for [are] somewhere around 50,000 to $75,000 a year," Allen said.
Using a conservative local-spend multiplier, Allen estimated the total annual local economic impact could approach $14 million, with additional local sales tax accretion of roughly $700,000–$800,000 over time.
Commissioners asked about coordination with the City of Dawsonville and timing for rezoning. Allen deferred to Kevin, who said the authority has had preliminary conversations with the city, that rezoning would be required, and that seed money for site preparation was not expected until 2026, leaving time to coordinate municipal sewer plans.
The presentation and Q&A did not include a formal board action; Allen said he would welcome further discussion and partnership with the board as the project advances.
What happens next: the project remains at the concept and study stage; rezoning and municipal coordination are needed before any funding commitments or formal board actions.
