Steve Brown: Callula Hill makes absolutely no sense

Steve Brown's picture

Former Airport Manager Jim Savage hit the nail on the head: the city has always tried (until the last Planning Commission vote) to protect the Falcon Field Airport from residential development.

Sadly, I expect Logsdon/Boone/Plunkett to approve the rezoning. There is no reverence for the city's history of strict planning amongst the three. Logsdon is a sure vote in favor because he owes the Pathway principles for the campaign support he received.

The future of the airport will be affected by this development. Too bad the Airport Authority allowed themselves to be pressured into silence on the matter.

The Pathway Communities tactic of throwing the rezoning on the city council agenda immediately, so as to thwart any organized opposition, is designed to take some of the pressure off of Logsdon/Boone/Plunkett.

Many thought the "planning" aspect of our city would erode under Mayor Logsdon and friends, but it is literally imploding before our eyes. The Callula Hill decision has major future implications for the airport and the city.

I regret that I am out of town and will not be able to attend the council meeting. This is a pivotal moment in the future of our city, and I can only hope that citizens attend the meeting and voice their concerns.

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Robert W. Morgan's picture
Submitted by Robert W. Morgan on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 6:21am.

Go to the city council meeting and make it very clear you are opposed to this plan - which is not just a residential subdivision in an industrial park. That's bad enough, but the real plan is to set a precedent so the owner of the remaining industrial land (guess who that is) can eventually convert all or most of it to residential, leaving us with no hope for future job growth since we will have used up all the industrial land for subdivisions. Subdivisions don't create jobs after the initial construction of the houses - they create kids in school - 2 or 3 and the household's annual tax bill (meaning the portion allocated to the school district) doesn't even pay for 1/2 the cost of educating 1 kid. Does that make any sense at all?

Speak up. Even Boone can be swayed by public opinion.


Submitted by fay79isus on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 7:12am.

Bobby and PTC deserve Calulla Hills and worse, and it is coming. BOHICA. You are the same people that demonized Steve Brown. Steve Brown is the only Mayor that PTC EVER had that was not co-opted by Black, Mitchell and the Development Crowd. Fred Brown even had the audacity to leave the Mayor's office and be a lobbyist for the Developers. Now the very disaster that Steve Brown fought (overloading us with residential on our already underfunded, overcrowded schools) is happening. And all of this at a time when there is a glut of houses for sale, sales tax revenue going down, property taxes going up, road budgets escalating. And it will only get worse. I agree with Don Haddix--- the city attorney never said that there wouldn't be a precedent. For Logsdon, being Mayor has been one very profitable pub crawl and all of you people that put him in office are to blame. And that includes Spear Road Guy and those tired old Republican wine-and-cheesers who also put Horgan in for fear of electing a black guy. Back to PTC ---think about it-- what did Brown do wrong? He was abrasive, contentious, yes, but he never ever even touched the land use plan. You hypocrites hammered him because he supported the Lutheran Church rezoning as excuse to get him out all while the Church sits on a State Highway on the opposite corner of a strip shopping center and across from a bar and grill. You people deserve the hell hole in Fayette you are getting.

Submitted by Spyglass on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 8:34am.

If you think PTC is a "hell hole" then I would hate to see where you live. I've lived all over Atlanta, and in my humble opinion, not much comes close to being as nice overall at my little City.

Submitted by Hey on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 9:02pm.

I'm wondering why this place can't be made into a park or something for the public to enjoy the lake, with picnic tables and such. That would be so much better than building homes there.
I know, not enough money to be made that way.

Submitted by Busy Bee on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 10:01pm.

First of all, I agree that the re-zoning should not take place, especially given the close proximity to the airport. But if you want a park to be built, who is going to pay for it? Are you saying Pathways should donate the land and pay for a park just because they are developers? Would you donate your house to the city for the purpose of building a park? Of course you wouldn't. Why would Pathways decide any differently? Should the city take the land by eminent domain? Well, if the city tries that, they better check with the lawyers first. And even if it was legal, the city would still have to compensate Pathways fair market value for taking the land. And if there was a dispute over fair market value you can be sure it would involve a long expensive court battle. Then the city would still have to pay to develop the park.

Submitted by fiddle on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 5:10pm.

What he said.

mudcat's picture
Submitted by mudcat on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 8:06pm.

The Pathways scum is really pushing too far this time. I promise signs, pickets and a flyover airplane with banner when they try to open this abortion of a development.

Yes Steve you are right it will be a 3-2 vote to approve, but at least it will make the November elections more interesting. At least we will have a real issue this time.

I too will be out of town, but hubby wil be there with bells on. It is a good look for him, but do not touch him ladies - he's mine.


Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 8:53pm.

I see this development as fantastic place to locate Section 8 Housing residents. Who else in there right mind would want to dwell there? Is there anything 'The Three' will stand up to or stand for besides the developers? Puzzled What are these characters thinking?

Are You Freer Today Than You Were Before Obama?


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