When we moved to Fayette County nearly 30 years ago, one of the major attractions was that Fayette County was the only county in the metro area with a comprehensive land use plan. We reasoned that while growth was going to happen, the land use plan, if followed, would insure we would continue to enjoy plenty of open space, manageable traffic, etc.

For the first few years things went as expected — life was good. Then we somehow elected a group of county commissioners who felt that the land use plan was only a suggestion and over the next few years, they proceeded to rape the land use plan, much as the city of Fayetteville continues to do.

More was better and the land speculators and developers ruled the commission. The commissioners seldom found a rezoning request they did not approve and land in the county zoned for two- or five-acre lots were rezoned to one- and two-acre lots.

Also county commissioner meetings were often a disaster as those who dared to speak out against the actions of the commissioners were silenced and in a few cases removed from the meeting by the marshals.

Finally, when many of us had experienced enough, we were able to change the make-up of the county commission by electing those who promised to support the land use plan, and these folks have been true to their word.

Speculators and developers no longer flock to the commissioners with their rezoning requests as they know the answer will be, ”Follow the land use plan.” Current commissioners who are primarily responsible for holding the line are Gregg Dunn, Linda Wells And Peter Pfeifer.

It now appears that there is a concerted effort by the land speculators and developers to once again elect those to the county commission who will act more favorably to their rezoning requests and increase the density in the county.

Higher density means less green space, more traffic, more crime, crowded schools, higher taxes and the erosion of current property values.

If you don’t believe me, just look at the counties that surround us. In a recent article in The Citizen, Mr. Beverly points out clearly that Sam Chapman is on record as griping that the current commission has been too slow-growth oriented.

What banker Sam is saying is that the county needs more development, more people, more commercial growth, etc. The only way I know to get this is to once again rape the land use plan. While this all may be good for the banker, it sure is not good for the great majority of us who value our way of life in Fayette County.

As for Eric Maxwell, I don’t know what his feelings are as they relate to our land use plan,but it does appear that the same folks backing the banker are also backing Maxwell, sort of a package deal, I guess. (You know the old story: if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck.)

To me our land use plan is the one major factor that makes our quality of life the best in the metro area. If we lose it, we’ll be no different than those counties around us.

I urge you to vote for Gregg Dunn and Linda Wells as they kept promises made to us when they first ran for office several years ago. We are all better of because of their integrity and willingness to stand up against special interests and do what is best for the great majority of the citizens of the county.

Or you can vote for those who appear to have the overwhelming support of land speculators, developers, real estate business, etc., and hope and pray for the best.

Darrell McKinney
Fayetteville, Ga.