Oconee County, GA Politics

Dick's Sporting Goods Now Hiring for New Oconee County Location

Approved alcohol permit for University 16 but expressed serious concerns about a variety of matters before unanimously approval

Blake Aued of Flagpole Magazine Flagpole Magazine's Blake Aued writes about the forthcoming Epps Bridge Centre mall and what it may or may not mean for the Atlanta Highway business district in Athens-Clarke County Big Box Apocalypse

Developer: Epps Bridge Centre a Quality Project to Attract Regional Shopping

Groundbreaking Planned for New Epps Bridge Centre

Lee Becker stays on top of the permitting process of a developer of Epps Bridge Centre behind the Lowe's in Oconee County. Dear Friends, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted a permit for destruction of the streams and wetlands on the site of the proposed Epps Bridge Centre on Epps Bridge Parkway. See my blog for details. http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/ Lee -- Lee Becker Blog: www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com Web: http://lbbecker48.googlepages.com/

OK, Oconee County activists, this is our Maginot line. We need to do everything we can to make certain this development is not built according to the plans currently laid out.  Our wetlands are more important than a huge parking lot and movie theater. Check out more at Lee Becker's blog. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 10:45 PM Subject: Buffer Variance Need Explained To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, It really is rather simple. The property for the proposed Epps Bridge Centre on Epps Bridge Parkway really isn't suitable for the shopping center unless the state allows the developer to pipe and pave over the streams. Onsite mitigation isn't practical either, since all the streams and wetlands will be piped, paved over, filled or otherwise disturbed to build that shopping center. The reason the state should grant the variance request? We need more shopping opportunities in...

Once again Lee Becker scoops the mainstream media with details of the environmental devastation that could be wrought by this massive development behind Lowe's at the By-Pass. Please consider writing the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to voice your opinion of the environmental impact of this development and the lack of wetlands set-asides in Oconee County. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: Sun, Jan 4, 2009 at 11:15 PM Subject: Epps Bridge Centre Update To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has given those interested in commenting on an application by the developer of the proposed Epps Bridge Centre until Jan. 19 to file statements about the environmental impact of the development. Developer Frank Bishop wants the state to set aside its requirements that streams on the site of the proposed development be protected by a 25-foot buffer. He wants to pipe a...

With recent residential transplant and Safe as Houses blogger Johnathan McGinty jumping the shark to Tondee's Tavern today, I nominate Lee Becker as Oconee Blogger of the Year. Here is just a little more from UGA PR prof Becker who helped battle the Oconee County government on any number of fronts, including the Barber Creek and numerous development skirmishes. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 10:37 AM Subject: Update on Two Roadways To: lbbecker@mindspring.com Dear Friends, I've just posted a story on my blog about the twists and turns the Board of Commissioners went through to justify rezoning on Dec. 2 the piece of property just east of the blind curve on Daniells Bridge Road for an office building. What isn't so clear is why the Board wanted to make these twists and turns, though the hope for more development in the area seems to be a part of it. For details, go to my blog at ht...

Traffic At Epps Bridge Centre from Lee Becker on Vimeo .

Once again commerce trumps concern over traffic, environment, roads, and quality of life. I guess that anyone is willing to build anything in this recession is enough to shove the public's questions aside. The following features links to Lee Becker's broadsides against the less enlightened elements of the Oconee County, Georgia government. So now we will have a third of the stores even without the much-ballyhooed road and bridge. From: Lee Becker < lbbecker@mindspring.com > Date: Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 10:57 PM Subject: Epps Bridge Centre Vote Details Dear Friends, As I promised, I've provided some more details of the Epps Bridge Centre vote of last night on my blog. The BOC voted to approve the project despite the fact that what the developer promised to do is not doable at present because he lacks a roadway to his project and needed state and federal permits for wetland and stream destruction. The details are at http://www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.co...

Enlightening item about imminent rezone of Epps Bridge Centre after the thumbs down from NEGRDC so if you want to ask the BOC about this vote, Tuesday is your time. Lee Becker pens a thoughtful piece encompassing many of impacts of this mammoth decision.$76 million is a lot to spend during these uncertain times, and we could certainly use the economic impact, but at what cost to our way of life and traffic. The impact of our own bridge to nowhere is a question of what we allow in this Epps Bridge corridor. Is smart growth out of the question? I wish the BOC would table this and listen to James Howard Kunstler 4:00 pm Oct. 21 at UGA. Dear Friends, The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night is scheduled to make a crucial rezone decision regarding the proposed $76 million Epps Bridge Centre. The rezone comes before the BOC with a negative finding from the North East Georgia Regional Development Center that "the development is not in the best interest of the Region and...

The history and back story, not to mention the consequences of the "done deal" that is the new monstrosity called Epps Bridge Centre - thank to Lee Becker once again. Dear Friends, The scheduled hearing on Oct. 7 for the rezone request for the $76 million Epps Bridge Centre on Epps Bridge Parkway might seem almost to be an afterthought. The state–at the urging of the county–already has decided to build a $26 million roadway to the project. The county, in an effort to facilitate the project, has loaned the state $5 million for right of way purchase for the roadway. That's only part of the story. The county has passed a beer and wine ordinance, the federal government has granted a permit for mitigation of stream damage in Oconee by stream reparations in Greene County, and the local planning staff reviewed the project favorably despite a decidedly negative review by their regional counterparts. The reason Oconee County is so enthusiastic about the project is...