Fayette County Commissioner Eric Maxwell had the courage to take a stance in opposition to the business technology park on the west side of Ga. Highway 74 in Tyrone by saying, “I believe that at this point you can tell the difference going from Fayette County to Fairburn. And in four years, if this thing is passed and the economy turns around, you will not know the difference between Fulton County and Fayette County.”

The folks who live in and around Fayetteville did not have any of our county officials stand up and fight for them when it came to commercially overbuilding the city of Fayetteville. Many citizens spoke out against several projects that would cause more traffic in Fayetteville. However, our officials refused to consider our opinions.

Now, they are trying to take over privately owned property in order to build the West Fayetteville Bypass. What an absolute shame! Even though we have paid our property taxes without fail and maintained our homes in good condition, we will either have to sell the county our property or go to court and have it condemned. What a shame!

According to the county’s own document entitled, “Fayette County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan 1991-2020,” it states on page 6, “Water and land conservation are the most critical environmental concerns for Fayette County. Rapid and sometimes inappropriate development has damaged water quality and supply and increased the risk of floods.”

However, the county officials want to cross multiple wetland areas that flow directly into Whitewater Creek in order to build the West Fayetteville Bypass and thereby further compromise our water quality.

Why can’t some of our county officials have the courage and conviction to take a stance for maintaining the quality of life that many Fayette County citizens have fought to preserve?

Fayette County is being destroyed bit by bit. The West Fayetteville Bypass will destroy mile after mile of beautiful countryside. It will further destroy our already compromised water and air quality. It will destroy the home sites of many families.

What a shame our county officials can’t or won’t follow the Comprehensive Growth Management Plan for which they paid so much of our tax money. What a shame!

Lana McCarty

Fayetteville, Ga.