ARC: 3.5 percent of Hall Co. is 'protected greenspace'

ATLANTA - Protected greenspace in Hall County totals about three-and-a-half percent, according to a new study, which finds that is about in line with two other fast-growing counties in the area but less than another.

The report, by the Atlanta Regional Commission, says 3.4 percent of Hall County's 275,000 acres is classified as "protected greenspace."

Both Barrow and Forsyth come in at 3.2 percent, but Gwinnett still has 5.1 percent of its total acreage in that category.

The report also finds that development has "slowed significantly" in Forsyth and Gwinnett in the past two years - primarily because of the drop in housing starts that began last year - thus slowing the decline in undeveloped land.