Wednesday, August 23, 2000

The elected officials of Peachtree city realized that the people do not want higher density in Fayette County. That is why they decided not to annex.

From the last three elections, they know that any elected official who votes for higher density will be voted out of office and shamed forever. The countywide survey a few years ago stated clearly that 83 percent of the population thought that growth “is out of control and the elected officials are representing the developers.” The two elected officials who spent $70,000 of your tax dollars for that survey voted the wrong way and we voted them out.

Fayetteville has before it a request to annex a huge amount of property. There are over 1,000 undeveloped acres that touch that property and over 3,000 undeveloped acres that touch that. Then there are over 6,000 undeveloped acres that touch that. That is over 10,000 acres of undeveloped land that can be developed at the higher city density.

Fayetteville could extend all the way to Peachtree City, Tyrone, Brooks and beyond. You got the picture yet?

The lake is polluted and not possible as a water source. The dam was built without inspections and probably unsafe for heavy traffic.

But the real issue is that “this will be developed at a lower density than it is currently zoned in the county.”

That is wrong. The most they could get at county zoning levels is 435 lots, That is less than what they propose now. They will make more money if they develop it on sewer than if they had to build the roads necessary to develop it at county standards. Where is the soil survey?

Another lie, “It will be developed better in the cities.” Have you looked at what the cities have done to themselves lately? How many more sewer spills into the drinking water does it take before people get upset? A city councilman was responsible for silting Lake Kedron.

The county elected officials are doing a good job, now that we have replaced the scoundrels. It is up to the city governments to assume the high standards of the people who live in the cities and those that live in Fayette County.

Until the crisis in the schools is addressed, there should be no rezonings to higher density.

Where is our school board at each rezoning?

Higher density rezonings just increase your taxes, lower your quality of life, reduce the value of your home, and fill our schools. Show me one, a single one, higher density rezoning that has lowered your taxes, improved your quality of life. If there is one, we should use that as our example.

Show us a single compelling benefit for the current citizens for any rezoning.
To develop it as zoned is not “no growth” or “drawbridge mentality.” Watch out for the elected officials who say that. Very simply, a vote for higher density is a vote for higher (for you) taxes.

There is a lot to do. This is still the best county to be living in. We just don’t want our elected officials messing it up. See you at the polls.

Bob Craft
Fayette

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