By CAROLYN CARY
ccary@thecitizennews.com

Green space was on the mind of Gov. Roy E. Barnes as he met with a delegation from the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce last week.

“Green space sells houses,” Barnes said during an informal chat with chamber members attending their annual “Dome Roam.” “People who move here comment on the amount of trees Georgia has. Nearby green space can add 10 percent to the value of a home,” said Barnes.

Barnes has proposed to make state funding available to help high-growth counties preserve 20 percent of the land as green space.

Twenty-two chamber members, most of them on the Governmental Affairs Committee and the Board of Directors, also met with state school superintendent Linda Schrenko and legislative members Sen. Greg Hecht, Sen. Rick Price, Rep. Kathy Cox and Rep. Lynn Westmoreland.

Lunch was hosted by Westmoreland, at which time the chamber members heard from Linda Schrenko and the legislative representatives.