GREENSBORO – For six years, advocates and skeptics of plans for the area known as the Heart of the Triad along the Guilford-Forsyth County line have invested hundreds of volunteer hours in the effort.

Later this month, the public will have a chance to see a status report on the campaign.

A public meeting on the draft plan for the 18,000-acare Heart of the Triad area will be held from 4-7 p.m. April 22 at Bunker Hill United Methodist Church at 1510 Bunker Hill Road in Kernersville. The 30-page draft plan features detailed suggestions on long-range topics such as land use, economic development opportunities, preservation of open space and roadways.

Members of the Heart of the Triad Strategic Planning Committee discussed the plan during their meeting Wednesday in Greensboro, assisted by planners from area counties and cities. The Heart of the Triad is a cooperative effort of the two counties and municipalities of High Point, Greensboro, Kernersville, Winston-Salem and Oak Ridge. More than half of the acreage in the Heart of the Triad is proposed for residential use or open space, respecting the heritage of the area, said Dick Hails, Greensboro planning director. Most of the business development is proposed along Interstate 40 west of Piedmont Triad International Airport, along N.C. 66 in Kernersville and around the Dell Inc. plant in southeastern Forsyth County.

The area, which now has employers with 13,000 jobs, could grow to create opportunities for 82,000 jobs, said Jeff Hatling, Kernersville planning director. More than 4,000 acres would be freed up for business development.

The Strategic Planning Committee doesn’t have any authority over zoning or land use. Instead, it will make recommendations to the seven county and municipal governments that do have authority to set policies. The goal is to coordinate land-use, development and preservation in the Heart of the Triad.

Several years ago, the Heart of the Triad effort was gridlocked in controversy because residents of the area didn’t believe their concerns were being taken into account. That situation has changed for the better, said Pat Schreiber, a Forsyth County resident. “We’ve spent two years producing a document no one thought would come to pass. This should serve as a model for other development,” Schreiber said.

pjohnson@hpe.com | 888-3528

AT A Glance

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The Heart of the Triad Strategic Planning Committee has developed a draft plan for an approximately 18,000-acre area along the Guilford-Forsyth County line. To view the plan, check the Web site http://www.partnc.org/HOT.html and go to the Heart Document Archive.

The Heart of the Triad could become a mix of residential, retail and commercial development, along with preserving some land for open space. Most of the land in the area is now used for farming or is open space.