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Speak now or forever hold your peace
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Editor

 

First of all, I would like to thank the Bryan County News for its recent support in our fight against the rezoning request for a multi-family development at 23152 Georgia Hwy 144 on Demeries Creek. I commend you for standing on the side of justice and agreeing that the construction of multi-family housing would be an acute disruption to our community and way of life. There are several issues that have arisen that I would very much like to address.

First, I would like to take issue with a view that was expressed in the paper by the county administrator. He suggests that the commissioners must look strongly at both sides, taking into consideration both the legal rights of the landowners and the concerns of the public.

Legal rights of the landowner? I would like to argue that point. Let’s be perfectly clear, this property was purchased just three years ago by the developers and they knew full well what the zoning constraints on this piece of property were at the time of purchase. Make no mistake; they knew then that AR-1 zoning would not allow for the construction of condominiums or town homes. With that being said, I do not see where the developers have a leg to stand on. In addition, we have the issue of spot zoning. I would like to directly quote a real estate law website, "Spot zoning occurs when a small area of land or section in an existing neighborhood is singled out and placed in a different zone from that of neighboring property… In some areas of the country the courts have found spot zoning illegal on the ground that it is incompatible with the existing land use-zoning plan or in an overall zoning scheme for the community."

This rezoning request most certainly falls under spot zoning. Furthermore, if all land owners have legal rights to do as they please with their property, what then is the purpose of zoning?

Would that not imply that all zoning is illegal; and if that is the case, why are our tax dollars being wasted on a Planning and Zoning Department and Board? I think we might have a double standard here. It seems that developers and those who are influential in this county can do as they please, but mere citizens, like you and I, are held to different standards. Our hired officials seem to be representatives for the developers rather than the people of this county.

Secondly, I would like to state some reasons why this development should not be approved by the Board of Commissioners. This 5 acre parcel of land is located in an area of the county that is made up of mostly 5-plus acre lots, which are zoned to allow one home per lot. So, this piece of property is essentially one lot in our neighborhood and their goal is to place 18 homes with a "shared vertical wall."

This would be similar to someone purchasing one lot in Redbird Creek or Strathy Hall and requesting to put multi-family housing on it. Also, this area has no public utilities available and the proposed development would have to have its own well and septic system. This is of extreme concern to the residents in this area. A large scale septic system is very risky. If this system fails to operate properly, our drinking water could become contaminated. Not to mention the contamination to the marsh, Demeries Creek, and the Medway River. This statement is not so far fetched. In fact, the homeowners at Two Way Fish Camp near Darien are battling this exact scenario. As we speak the septic system for their condominiums has failed and raw sewage is leaking into the ground water and the Altamaha River.

Third, I would like to address the Board of Commissioners directly. Many residents of our county have expressed a concern that our voice does not count. I, however, am an optimist and hope this is not the case. Commissioners, this is your chance to prove this talk untrue. You are elected officials put in office by a vote of confidence from your citizens. You are the voice of your people. I am begging you to hear our cry. No one in this county is "anti-growth"; we all want our community to grow and prosper. Everyone looks forward to new businesses, nice neighborhoods, bigger and better community services and the like. What we do not want is for our community to degrade, and become a place that no one wants to live. Please listen to our voices and restore our faith in democracy and government. Uphold the planning board’s recommendation and vote to deny this rezoning request!

Lastly, I would like to address the citizens of this county. It is time for us to speak up and put complacency aside. Many of us are unhappy with the decisions that have been made in the past in this county. Unfortunately, it is too late to change those outcomes. It is not too late, however, to make a difference for the future. Let’s get involved and make our desires known. Be pro-active on issues like growth, traffic, schools etc. A disconnect has formed between us and our leaders, and it is time to bridge this gap. I urge you to not only attend the March 6 Board of Commissioners meeting at 1:30 p.m., but also become active in future sessions and on future issues.

Cara Martin

Keller

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Showing gratitude for service
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Dear editor: Another election cycle is finally over and the voters of Bryan County have spoken. We will have three new county commissioners in January 2011.
My congratulations go out to Jimmy Henderson of District 5, Carter Infinger of District 4 and Wade Price of District 2. I look forward to working with them as we continue to take care of the business of the county.
All three races were contested, which gave the voters a choice of who they wanted as their commissioner. Those who did not prevail in this election are to be applauded for offering themselves as candidates.
Our county owes a debt of gratitude to retiring commissioners Rick Gardner with eight years of service, Blondean Newman with eight years of service as a commissioner and 30 years as tax commissioner, and Toby Roberts with 18 years on the county commission.
These three spent many hours establishing policies and procedures for our county government and many meetings with state and local officials to achieve the best possible outcomes regarding our county on numerous issues. Their many years of experience will be sorely missed.
I well remember the first time I ran for public office and lost. Sometimes those who are not elected are the winners because they don’t have to go to all the meetings – that is said with tongue in cheek, of course.
After my loss, someone sent me the following quotation from President Theodore Roosevelt, which I keep on the wall in my office:
“It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
And my wish for all the citizens of Bryan County is to have a truly blessed Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year’s.

Jimmy Burnsed
Chairman
Board of commissioners

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