Smart growth saves Watkinsville again - will the county follow suit?
Here in Oconee County we have cooperative but often competing forms of local governments with the municipalities exerting their own influence to the sometimes contrary conflicts with the county government on issues such as beer and wine. Potential business owners appear before the towns asking permission to open their doors, and very seldom does a council question the existence of any legitimate enterprise.
But just such a rare turn occurred in Watkinsville recently over a small piece of property way down on Highway 15 at the south end of the city limits tucked in a trash filled lot owned by Cokey Elder. Council member Brian Brodrick led the charge in asking absolutely essential questions about how much the Colbert Storage, LLC would clean up of the considerable amount of eyesore garbage accmulated in piles. Brodrick and members of the council were polite but persistent in wanting to clean up this gaping wound of an industrial area in question at 1427 Greensboro Highway. The father and son of Joshua Micheal withdrew their request to clean up the whole lot were not answered successfully. They initially wanted to just remove some inexact amount of the voluminous mini-mountains of garbage scattered strategically across the yard. I believe they wanted to display some wooden storage buildings.
The south end of downtown has really cleaned up well recently with lots of nicely designed small developments, incorporating community vision with smart growth planning and conscious desire to avoid looking like so many generic Atlanta suburbs. Watkinsville has character and the government has done a reasonable job of protecting that, which is all you can really expect. They have done a good job incorporating a successful blend of planning with zoning appropriate areas, and especially cultivating the arts in addition to a wide array of industrial interests.
Watkinsville residents remain assured their local government has their best interests in mind.
Dan Elder got an awning variance for the recently rehabilitated old 10 North Main Street with a metal awning instead of looking like a 1980s style. Inside of that building will be two new artists to ever increasing pantheon of art and art related businesses in the city. James Richards of Nova Enterprises will be running his Main Street Studio and Gallery with Lana Mitchell in her Lana Ltd. They will be displaying all kinds of portraits and landscapes in the historic two story building's suite B.
Heidi Gunter gets her own cosmetology beauty shop at 20 Greensboro Hwy.
But just such a rare turn occurred in Watkinsville recently over a small piece of property way down on Highway 15 at the south end of the city limits tucked in a trash filled lot owned by Cokey Elder. Council member Brian Brodrick led the charge in asking absolutely essential questions about how much the Colbert Storage, LLC would clean up of the considerable amount of eyesore garbage accmulated in piles. Brodrick and members of the council were polite but persistent in wanting to clean up this gaping wound of an industrial area in question at 1427 Greensboro Highway. The father and son of Joshua Micheal withdrew their request to clean up the whole lot were not answered successfully. They initially wanted to just remove some inexact amount of the voluminous mini-mountains of garbage scattered strategically across the yard. I believe they wanted to display some wooden storage buildings.
The south end of downtown has really cleaned up well recently with lots of nicely designed small developments, incorporating community vision with smart growth planning and conscious desire to avoid looking like so many generic Atlanta suburbs. Watkinsville has character and the government has done a reasonable job of protecting that, which is all you can really expect. They have done a good job incorporating a successful blend of planning with zoning appropriate areas, and especially cultivating the arts in addition to a wide array of industrial interests.
Watkinsville residents remain assured their local government has their best interests in mind.
Dan Elder got an awning variance for the recently rehabilitated old 10 North Main Street with a metal awning instead of looking like a 1980s style. Inside of that building will be two new artists to ever increasing pantheon of art and art related businesses in the city. James Richards of Nova Enterprises will be running his Main Street Studio and Gallery with Lana Mitchell in her Lana Ltd. They will be displaying all kinds of portraits and landscapes in the historic two story building's suite B.
Heidi Gunter gets her own cosmetology beauty shop at 20 Greensboro Hwy.
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