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Forsyth planning board welcomes two new members
Officers elected at recent meeting
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Stacy Guy, left, and Tim Dineen.

The Forsyth County planning board welcomed two new members at a work session Tuesday evening.

Stacy Guy and Tim Dineen represent District 2 and District 5, respectively, having recently been appointed to the board by new county commissioners Rick Swope, of District 2, and Laura Semanson, of District 5.

Commissioners can appoint their own representatives to county boards.

The planning board also elected a new chairwoman, District 4 representative Bettina Hammond, and chose Guy as secretary.

Guy and his wife, Robyn Guy, moved to Forsyth County in 2001 with their two children.

In 1997, Guy graduated from Clemson University with a degree in computer science and economics and works as a software analyst in Alpharetta.

He volunteers at Whiz Kids, a Roswell-based charity that tutors and mentors at-need first graders. He also coaches youth baseball at Sharon Springs Park.

As part of his homeowners association at Shiloh Farms, he started a “Forsyth Matters” committee to advocate for local issues, zonings, public school concerns and proper growth in south Forsyth.

He also served in a research and analysis capacity for the Sharon Springs Alliance, an organization exploring cityhood in south Forsyth.

This, Guy said, gave him experience he plans to use in his new role.

“I came up through my homeowners association and I’ve been on the other side of the bias – one of those citizens who [has] come before the Planning commission upset about [rezonings] in my neighborhood,” he said. “So I’ve been on the other side and understand the [residents] before me now.”

He also said though the county’s new comprehensive plan has not yet been approved, he plans on taking some of the issues the new plan touches on and bringing them to applications the board is currently reviewing.

“I don’t come in with an agenda necessarily, but especially after being involved in new [comprehensive] plan and discussions, there’s a lot of concern about residential growth,” he said. “Impacts on things like schools and roads and traffic weigh heavily on my mind.

“Clearcutting of neighborhoods is also weighing on my mind. Even though some of that is being addressed by the comp plan, we’re focusing on those applications that are in front of us now.”

Guy said he is excited about the changes he feels the planning board can make.

“I realize I replaced Jayne Iglesias and I have big shoes to fill, but I think I bring a fresh perspective and it will be fun to work with other [board members,]” he said. “I think we are now taking feedback from the community into account and that encourages me and I think that brings a lot of fresh perspective. People will see a pretty big difference right away.”

Guy and his family attends Alpharetta First United Methodist Church.

“Growth and development are a necessary and desirable element in the continued success of Forsyth County,” Dineen said. “I would like to see that development occur responsibly and with the deliberate goal of creating an atmosphere that is both conducive to business but that also respects the residents of Forsyth and their quality of life. I’m interested to see high-quality development with attractive design and landscaping which fits in with the natural beauty of Forsyth County.

“I like to look at the big picture and I like to work collaboratively and collegially.”

Dineen has lived in north Forsyth with his wife and son for more than 10 years.

He is currently the program director for the History and Political Science Department of Gwinnett Technical College and has served on the Buford Highway Overlay Committee, which he considers his “proudest achievement” prior to being appointed to the planning board.

“The Overlay balanced the interests of all stakeholders and produced an area with an attractive and coherent design aesthetic, but that also allows for commercial development that respects area residents,” he said.

He has also served on the Forsyth County Comprehensive Plan Vision Committee, his community’s Board of Directors and as chair of the Regional Development and Affairs Committee.

In his spare time, Dineen participates in the Cub Scouts with his son.