Ever since the West Fayetteville Bypass project (WFB) project was officially introduced in an open house meeting the county held last September, it has been a source of heated debate.

Numerous articles have appeared in local newspapers, virtually all of them against the project. The West Fayetteville Bypass Coalition (“WFBC”) was organized to form a cohesive unit in organized opposition to the project.

Angry citizens in droves have attended commissioners’ meetings to voice their opposition. During this time period, almost no one has spoken out or submitted an article in favor of the project.

The WFBC is fighting the WFB primarily because its members believe that the project is not needed, it’s expensive, is developer oriented, and it will be harmful to the environment.

The WFB is not the first road nor will it be the last to receive public criticism. That’s why the law of eminent domain was designed. Once a public road project is approved, the county may proceed with it regardless of whether or not the public objects to it, provided that it is in the best interest of the public.

This is a case where the consequences of voting for SPLOST “road purposes” tax meant voting for the WFB, which never appeared on the voting ballot. The county put one over on us.

The county may also cross wetlands over the objections of the public, but there is a catch. First, the county must obtain a 404 Permit, which includes demonstrating an urgent and compelling public need for the project.

This is done by conducting detailed traffic studies that clearly demonstrate and document that the project is vital to the successful movement of traffic in the immediate area, and the particular route selected is the very best way to meet the traffic requirement. Other alternative routes must also be evaluated and compared.

The 404 Permit also requires that the road is in the best social, economic and environmental interest of the community.

The WFBC has tried repeatedly to obtain data from the county showing that the required traffic study and environmental evaluation have been made. Nothing was provided.

The commissioners have also been sent letters requesting the same information, and no responses or public responses have been made.

Somewhere along the line, they changed their mind, and decided we no longer need a bypass. It got renamed parkway, but that happened somewhere outside public meetings. Will whoever did it please stand up?

We’re being told to attend the county’s workshop on the project, and there, we might learn enough facts to render ourselves unbiased.

But unfortunately, all the county workshops talk about are topics like the Atlanta Regional Commission’s plans for Fayette County, bicycle trails, nature trails, senior facilities, and the aesthetics of the project. They don’t contain the statistical data the county will need to proceed with the project.

The commissioners have been told by an environmental expert with many years of federal government experience in this area that the county will not be able to obtain the required 404 Permit or pass the EPA Environmental Impact Assessment to cross the eight wetland areas that the WFB will impact.

In issuing a 404 Permit, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires documentation Fayette County evidently doesn’t have, or if it does have it, it won’t produce it.

Instead of joining in the discussion, the commissioners continue to remain silent. Surely they have some game plan.

What will happen when the county takes away three homes, a barn, and many acres of property away from the owners, only to find that they cannot proceed with the project?

Evidently, the commissioners consider the 404 Permit to be “a piece of cake” that may be obtained just by taking a slice at it.

The WFBC challenges the commissioners to publish a rationale as to how it plans to meet all Section 404 requirements. To do less, the WFB becomes the road to ruin in terms of public confidence.

Don’t hold your breath.

Steve Smithfield

Fayetteville, Ga.