I[Editor's note: Dr. Thomas Busey has asked the Fayette County Commission to rezone 155 acres now zoned A-R on Goza and Old Greenville roads to R-75 for a 61-lot subdivision. The petition will be heard by the commission Sept. 23.]

Do we really need this rezoning, is there a compelling benefit for the current citizens, will it reduce taxes, will it improve the quality of life for all of Fayette County?

This property is currently legally zoned and can be developed as zoned. If Mr. Busey wants to sue the county to try to get a higher density, that is his right. I have full confidence in our county attorney Bill McNally for a quick decisive victory.

This property is currently zoned for 31 homes. Mr. Busey wants to double that to 61 lots. That is an increase of 30 more lots than currently zoned, an almost 100 percent increase in density.

I will address the cost of just the increased 30 lots to the citizens of Fayette County. 30 lots at 1.5 children per new home equals 45 more students for the school system. Forty-five more students will mean an addition of at least two more trailers to the 97 we have now, two more teachers, and one more bus.

At $2,207 county cost per student, that is a $100,000 increase to the school system budget. To build new classrooms to move those children into permanent buildings will cost almost $500,000, half a million dollars to come from SPLOST, if passed. This is just one rezoning vote, in one night.

Traffic now is a mess, and the 30 lots added to this development will further congest all the roads of Fayette County by an addition of 300 vehicle trips per day. So much for the air pollution problem.

Mr. Busey in the past has said he has paid taxes on his properties and should be allowed to develop the way he wants to. I say that all the taxpayers of Fayette County have as large an investment in these properties as Mr. Busey. We have paid the taxes to improve the roads, fire, police, schools and other parts of the infrastructure. His taxes and ours have improved the value of his property.

A vote for higher density is a vote for higher taxes for all the citizens of Fayette County. Develop the currently rezoned lots first, before you rezone more.

I have never opposed commercial growth because commercial pays for itself; residential development costs three dollars for each dollar of taxes taken in.

You have been called a “No Growth” Commission by some of the failed politicians and developers in our county. Many of them are responsible for our current problems.

To develop this and other properties as currently zoned is not “no growth”; it is prudent, sustainable, affordable and smart growth, certainly not a drawbridge mentality.

We elect you to solve problems, not create them, and I look forward to a unanimous vote to deny this rezoning and preserve the quality of this great county of Fayette that we call home.

Bob Craft
Fayette

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