Wednesday, October 16, 2002

[Our] family has been residing in Fayette County for over 16 years. We chose Fayette County for many reasons but mostly because of the following: Small town appeal with a slower pace, great place to raise a family, great schools, neighbors and family with the same desires.

Fayette County met those needs. If also had requirements that [we] agreed with also. [We] recall homeowners in the county had to build on at least one acre of land. This requirement said to me, and many others, that the people developing the land along with the County Commissioners did not want a Gwinnett or DeKalb County mass development in this area.

Why now do these developers want to change the requirements? To be rezoned is to say that 16 years ago the things that meant so much to all us mean nothing now. Why would the Fayetteville City Council entertain such a plan in an area already choked with traffic? We do not need more business space on the south side of town. We have vacant space all over this town.

Why would the city want to approve this massive project when The Village has not even got going well, and we have not idea how it is going to affect schools, traffic and services such as water, sewage and utilities?

[We are] not against people being able to sell their land and make money, but again this land is already zoned commercial and has been for years. Just like the old one-plus acre for we need to keep zoning as it has always been.

[Our] family lives in Kingswood subdivision off Ga. Highway 92 South. We have been very happy here, but the rapid growth of Fayette County over the last few years has been a great concern to our family and neighbors. We are not opposed to growth, but when it directly affects the area in a negative way, we are wondering if our elected officials are thinking about what is good for the community and our county.

Sixteen years ago, we moved to Fayette County to escape the rapid growth of other counties even though they were more convenient to my husband's job at the time. He was willing to commute to the north side of Atlanta in order for us to live in a county that offered us a lifestyle other counties could not.

What once took us only minutes to reach downtown Fayetteville, now takes us significantly longer due to the traffic. We risk our lives and the lives of our children every time we turn left out of our subdivision onto Hwy. 92. Some mornings it takes 10 to 15 minutes before a good neighbor will allow me to enter the long line of traffic heading north. Our two-lane road (Hwy. 92) will not accommodate the added traffic of this commercial and residential endeavor.

Fayette County schools are great, but they are already overcrowded and the Board of Education has found it necessary to bring in trailers to accommodate the rapid growth of our county. Are new schools planned for the southside? Our education system is going to suffer unless this is addressed. However, more schools mean increased taxes.

[We] do not feel the Southside Master Plan has been thoroughly thought out. It will not only bring our property values down, but taxes will increase in order to pay for additional necessary services that will be required for this plan. Has anyone thought about water and other utilities? With the water bans over the last few years, is there enough water to serve this new plan?

Fayette County does not support all the commercial property that already exists. Just look around at all the unoccupied and abandoned buildings in Fayetteville. Since the opening of the Pavilion on Ga. Highway 85 North, the crime in Fayette County has increased. Now with the planned rezoning for a new shopping center complex, grocery store and convenience shops, we must ask ourselves, will we face even more crime?

[We are] saddened by what has happened to Fayette County. It has become one of those rapid growing counties we ran from many years ago. It's too bad our city and county leaders have not heard what the residents wanted for our county a county with a "small town" feel, great schools for our children and concern for our environment.

Deborah and David Steed

Fayetteville