Save South Oconee County from rape and pillage development
Hello all. I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend. Unfortunately I have some indoor responsibilities and can’t take full advantage of the mild temps.
On to the business at hand…..
I previously emailed you concerning the residential rezone requests by Plum Creek Timberlands (Rezone #5146 and #5147, both A1 to AR5, total of 66 homes on ~365 acres along US441 in the south end of the county). As you know, the Planning Commission recommended approval for the two requests, and the issue now comes before the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night (October 3, 2006; 7:00 p.m.; County Courthouse on Main Street in Watkinsville).
This issue is more than just a question of further residential development in the southern region of the county. None of us are opposed to the idea of homes and families as neighbors, but the bigger issue is proper growth at the proper time with the proper infrastructure available to support it.
As we all know, the area of the county south of Bishop is largely void of county infrastructure, yet there is a mad rush to try and divide this region into 5 acre residential lots that each require a personal well and septic system. The added tax burden on the county (such as additional school bussing), in addition to stretching the already tasked fire and police protection network, indicates the Plum Creek rezone requests are putting the county at the breaking point. Either they will have to deny this request on these grounds, or they will have to support additional development (i.e., commercial rezones such as convenience stores) to generate tax revenue to support expansion of services to accommodate the hundreds of new homes that are being approved.
Contrast this scenario with another option on the table. As some of you are aware, Russ Page has engaged Plum Creek in a discussion encouraging them to take full advantage of state and federal tax incentives that could result in a significant public donation of this land for permanent conservation. Such an act of good corporate citizenship on the part of Plum Creek would leave a lasting legacy in this county for generations of its citizens. Russ will be making a presentation at the BOC meeting Tuesday night.
In addition to Russ, a list of speakers is being compiled to address some of the pertinent issues that we feel the county must consider when deliberating on this rezone. Here’s where you can help. Come to the BOC meeting Tuesday night. I don’t want to be overly presumptuous since there may be some of you who support this rezone, but I am going to assume most of you would rather see this land preserved for all of Oconee’s citizens rather than developed into private 5 acre lots. Sign up to speak against the rezone. I will be there early to put down the names of those who have already agreed to speak. Add your name to the list. If no one else touches on an issue you feel is important to stress, state your concerns. Otherwise, simply stand and state you concur with the concerns and statements already made. The intention is to have a large number of citizens be there. Large crowds do have a significant impact on how the BOC responds and votes.
Feel free to pass this message along to others.
I am very appreciative to all of you for your time and effort!
Sincerely,
Tony Glenn
On to the business at hand…..
I previously emailed you concerning the residential rezone requests by Plum Creek Timberlands (Rezone #5146 and #5147, both A1 to AR5, total of 66 homes on ~365 acres along US441 in the south end of the county). As you know, the Planning Commission recommended approval for the two requests, and the issue now comes before the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night (October 3, 2006; 7:00 p.m.; County Courthouse on Main Street in Watkinsville).
This issue is more than just a question of further residential development in the southern region of the county. None of us are opposed to the idea of homes and families as neighbors, but the bigger issue is proper growth at the proper time with the proper infrastructure available to support it.
As we all know, the area of the county south of Bishop is largely void of county infrastructure, yet there is a mad rush to try and divide this region into 5 acre residential lots that each require a personal well and septic system. The added tax burden on the county (such as additional school bussing), in addition to stretching the already tasked fire and police protection network, indicates the Plum Creek rezone requests are putting the county at the breaking point. Either they will have to deny this request on these grounds, or they will have to support additional development (i.e., commercial rezones such as convenience stores) to generate tax revenue to support expansion of services to accommodate the hundreds of new homes that are being approved.
Contrast this scenario with another option on the table. As some of you are aware, Russ Page has engaged Plum Creek in a discussion encouraging them to take full advantage of state and federal tax incentives that could result in a significant public donation of this land for permanent conservation. Such an act of good corporate citizenship on the part of Plum Creek would leave a lasting legacy in this county for generations of its citizens. Russ will be making a presentation at the BOC meeting Tuesday night.
In addition to Russ, a list of speakers is being compiled to address some of the pertinent issues that we feel the county must consider when deliberating on this rezone. Here’s where you can help. Come to the BOC meeting Tuesday night. I don’t want to be overly presumptuous since there may be some of you who support this rezone, but I am going to assume most of you would rather see this land preserved for all of Oconee’s citizens rather than developed into private 5 acre lots. Sign up to speak against the rezone. I will be there early to put down the names of those who have already agreed to speak. Add your name to the list. If no one else touches on an issue you feel is important to stress, state your concerns. Otherwise, simply stand and state you concur with the concerns and statements already made. The intention is to have a large number of citizens be there. Large crowds do have a significant impact on how the BOC responds and votes.
Feel free to pass this message along to others.
I am very appreciative to all of you for your time and effort!
Sincerely,
Tony Glenn
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