IN BRIEF: Local residents may be enjoying a community garden in Olde Town by this time next year.

Members of the Conyers Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board are in the early planning stages of planning the garden, which they are currently hoping to locate on Elm Street at the old Stephenson's Automotive site.

Modeled after community gardens in Suwanee and Decatur, the garden would offer plots to gardeners and famers for a small fee. The plans also call for fencing, gravel walkways and a small building within the approximately one-acre site. Initial costs are estimated to be between $3,000 to $5,000.

"There are so many avenues you can take with this idea," DDA member Brandon Mitchell said. "The benefits will far out-way the cost."

The next step for the DDA will be meeting with the Rockdale Master Gardeners, who may be interested in partnering on the project, along with the City of Conyers officials to discuss the proposed site.