Critical time for the future of Oconee County

The time is here folks! Oconee County is at a critical moment that will define its future.

Pick up a copy of this week’s Oconee Enterprise. Take a look at the bottom of page 2. There is a VERY important public notice from the county. The Editor of the paper, Merritt Melancon, has an accompanying article on page 3.

The county is now taking applications from citizens for appointment to the Stakeholders Advisory Committee for the Joint Comprehensive Plan for Oconee County and the Cities of Bishop, Bogart, North High Shoals, and Watkinsville.


This committee will be charged with developing the overall comprehensive plan for the county, including relevant areas for residential/commercial/industrial development. This will include revamping the Future Land Use Map. This committee will literally define what Oconee County will become over the next 10 years, which is a critical time frame for determining whether we become another Gwinnett County or something much smarter and well-balanced. My personal hope is that this new committee can also propose that the Map and overall Comp Plan carry more weight than the current plan. The current plan is a joke that is often ignored. The new plan needs to be given the power and value that it deserves. If a proposal doesn’t fit the plan, the county needs to reject the proposal. Other counties are doing this. There is a precedent.


The application can be found on the county’s web site (www.oconeecounty.com). I encourage anyone interested in the future of the county to apply. The four cities above are guaranteed to have a slot on the committee. If you live in the city limits of any one of these cities, you still apply to the County, but final decision on representation will be made by your city council.

For those of us living in the unincorporated areas, especially in the southern end of the county, WE MUST HAVE REPRESENTATION ON THE COMMITTEE!!! We need to stress this to the BOC.

Again, I encourage everyone to consider your time and schedules. If you feel you can make the commitment, please apply.


Sincerely,

Tony Glenn

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