More Stormwater dealings from Athens Area Homebuilders
Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc.
P. O. Box 1301
Watkinsville, GA 30677
Subject: Planning Commission public hearing on Stormwater Ordinance
The public hearing for the Stormwater Ordinance was held by the Planning Commission near the end of last night's regular meeting. Thanks to those who stuck it out and stayed for the hearing in order to speak out on the proposal. As it turned out, there had been changes made to the ordinance that were not available to the public. The draft on the county web site was not the most current. The Athens Homebuilders Association, through a representative had worked more magic on the ordinance and those changes were not included in the public version. For the public to have known there were recent changes they would have had to go by the public works department and ask for the most recent update. Not the best way to run a public hearing if you expect the public to have informed input.
The Athens Homebuilders Association was not satisfied with the watered down version and two representatives spoke for even more relaxed construction requirements. Folks, if we are not careful we will have an ordinance that will allow far more relaxed construction requirements than we now have. This ordinance will repeal all other ordinances that are "in conflict" with its provisions. No one was able to tell us last night which ordinances would be repealed.
After hearing the concerns of several citizens and the Homebuilders Association, the PC decided there were too many unanswered questions and tabled the proposal with no recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. Currently the ordinance is scheduled to go to the Board on the 27th for another hearing and approval. Please keep this on your calendars until we know if the Board will consider it or wait for a recommendation from the Planning Commission.
Two members of the BOC consider this an important enough issue that they were willing to spend an evening at the PC for the hearing. Chuck Horton and Jim Luke listened intently to the presentations and I hope they came away with a better understanding of the public concerns with the ordinance. This ordinance is an important policy issue that will have impact on our quality of life here in Oconee for a long time to come. It is good to see at least 2 of our 5 Commissioners are willing to take the time to become informed on the issue. They are due a "Thank You" from all of us.
Charles Baugh
President
P. O. Box 1301
Watkinsville, GA 30677
Subject: Planning Commission public hearing on Stormwater Ordinance
The public hearing for the Stormwater Ordinance was held by the Planning Commission near the end of last night's regular meeting. Thanks to those who stuck it out and stayed for the hearing in order to speak out on the proposal. As it turned out, there had been changes made to the ordinance that were not available to the public. The draft on the county web site was not the most current. The Athens Homebuilders Association, through a representative had worked more magic on the ordinance and those changes were not included in the public version. For the public to have known there were recent changes they would have had to go by the public works department and ask for the most recent update. Not the best way to run a public hearing if you expect the public to have informed input.
The Athens Homebuilders Association was not satisfied with the watered down version and two representatives spoke for even more relaxed construction requirements. Folks, if we are not careful we will have an ordinance that will allow far more relaxed construction requirements than we now have. This ordinance will repeal all other ordinances that are "in conflict" with its provisions. No one was able to tell us last night which ordinances would be repealed.
After hearing the concerns of several citizens and the Homebuilders Association, the PC decided there were too many unanswered questions and tabled the proposal with no recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. Currently the ordinance is scheduled to go to the Board on the 27th for another hearing and approval. Please keep this on your calendars until we know if the Board will consider it or wait for a recommendation from the Planning Commission.
Two members of the BOC consider this an important enough issue that they were willing to spend an evening at the PC for the hearing. Chuck Horton and Jim Luke listened intently to the presentations and I hope they came away with a better understanding of the public concerns with the ordinance. This ordinance is an important policy issue that will have impact on our quality of life here in Oconee for a long time to come. It is good to see at least 2 of our 5 Commissioners are willing to take the time to become informed on the issue. They are due a "Thank You" from all of us.
Charles Baugh
President
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