Old subdivision plans become new again in Watkinsville

February 13, 2013

Developer Ken Beall and Athens builder Jared York capped off a night of busy business approval at the Watkinsville City Council meeting Wednesday with sketch plat submitted and unanimously approved for Ava's Walk on 2.48 acres of fallow pasture between Wilson and Lawanna abutting Morgan Manor Estates (yes that is where I live). It was a full house for the first time in a long time with all the council members present along with city attorney Joe Reitman.

Chief of Police Lee O'Dillon and clerk Julie Sanders were temporarily replaced well by surrogates whose names I should have gotten at the time of the meeting, and for that omission I apologize to our readers.

I personally think the small side streets cannot handle the extra traffic or the construction equipment necessary to build these houses. This unanimous passage was done without much input from anyone in the nearby community. Newest city council member Connie Massey seemed to be the only member of the council who took the neighborhood into consideration. The tree canopy was a matter of some discussion as well by Council member Brian Brodrick, and York explained at great length his vision for this property.

Marilyn Forehand addressing Toby Smith and the Watkinsville Counci

The last time Beall appeared before the city council was several years (2009) prior with the same piece of Dewayne Wilkes owned property was summarily dismissed and even reprimanded for putting pipes and driveways without proper permission.

None of Wilkes' transgressions were the result of any advice or representation by Beall, by the way. The Wilkes' immaculate house has been for sale seemingly forever (at least four years and as many agents) at the front of the property facing Barnett Shoals Road.

Now the biggest obstacles appear to be where the storm water will run off to, how straight the sidewalk might meander, and whether there will be two or three driveways on crumbling and entirely too narrow Wilson Road. I give high praise to both the landscape architect and builder for keeping pedestrian access as a prime consideration for the property.

I look forward to having this project essentially in my neighbor's back yard as the property has generally been a place for garbage to be dumped (although cleaned up quickly) for the last four years.

At one point in the recent past the council was going to widen Wilson Road, but I do not know if this is still slated before the Beall project will break ground. I would think this step would be essential in the infrastructure support of this development.

Watkinsville will also be the recipient of a new antique furniture retail business with the addition of Marilyn's on Main at 10 North Main Street, Suite A thanks to the approval of Marilyn Forehand.

Laura Boyd will make merry wedding music with her new business of Athens Wedding Music, complete with violin and more at 36 Whitehall Road, which shall fit in nicely with the wedding factory that is Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast.

John Crowe

John Crowe returned to the area for his Mr. Comic Shop at 18 North Main Street. Lots of local kids will be digging that I am sure. This is a business that will do well on the First Fridays, according to Council member Brodrick. It is the first comics store in Watkinsville in my memory.

Justin Garcia will be replacing triggers and barrels with no reloads at his new Integrity Arms and Survival at 1450 Greensboro Highway that will feature law enforcement sales and AR-15 rifles repairs and upgrades. He was quizzed by the police and council member Mike Link about the mechanics of his business and whether he will do gun-smithing at the business. He said he would shop out a lot of those jobs.

Justin Garcia

Michelle Lester LMT

Michelle Lester will be relieving sore muscles at 2 South Main Street, Suite 209 in her Path of Wellness holistic healing for body, mind and spirit. The Oconee County native has moved back to the area so to be closer to her daughter attending college. She is also a Reiki master as well as a licensed massage therapist.

The city inherited a series of trees and shrubbery from the recently purchased property at the old Golden Pantry at Hodges Mill and Mars Hill Road as part of the spoils from the widening of the road. There is also the sale of a "table sized" chunk of property pointing toward Chicken Express for DOT purposes sometimes in the future for walkway upgrade. The crosswalks will be re-engineered around Main Street, Harden Hill and Simonton Bridge/Whitehall Roads. Streetscape II received the blessings of the all powerful GDOT as well and should commence sometime in late summer 2013.

Free trees shall be bestowed upon the lucky few who can picked them up by two and choose from red maples, white oaks, or yellow poplars Saturday morning 9 am to 12 noon as Watkinsville has been selected a tree city for the seventh consecutive year. Mayor Charles Ivie will be handing them out himself after putting the seedlings in soil earlier.

Watkinsville Council members Mike Link and Brian Brodrick listen to the views of the member of the audience at the meeting Wednesday at the Community Center.