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LAND USE ABUSE
We are currently experiencing the worst
drought in Georgia's history. The prime culprit is
climate change brought on by greenhouse
gasses; their main producers are cars and
Georgians drive more than anyone else on earth!
They drive this much usually because they
want to live far from work, in gigantic, vulgar
houses which display their money, surrounded
by carcinogenic lawns leaching tons of chemi
cals into the ground water which we all eventu
ally must drink! This is quite selfish. God
could put us out of our misery, but He might
as well let us suffer the hell we are cre
ating for ourselves here, rather than
kill us and send us to hell else
where. It's cheaper.
European settlers slaughtered
and drove out the original
inhabitants of this land (who
had no concept of private land
ownership), then carved it into
imaginary plots of "mine" and
"yours" and died. Their descendants
now want to sell that land for the same
foolish use which is causing the traffic and cli
mate problems, namely "suburbs."
But as brutal as our ancestors were (who also
thought that you could own human beings!)
even they would be shocked by the sheer stu
pidity of suburbs, where people basically only
sleep, then drive for many miles to go earn the
money to buy the food that they could have
better (and more easily) produced at home! Our
ancestors would especially hate lawns, an egre
gious affectation and waste of soil, adopted
from the arrogant and corrupt European aristo
crats we once fought a revolution against! (If
you are unfamiliar with this portion of our his
tory, please go see the new Mel Gibson movie.)
Over the last few years, a movement arose in
Athens-Clarke County to help prevent the
encroachment of Marietta-like "sprawl" on the
precious, almost unique atmosphere here. After
months of public hearings and taxpayer-paid
consultants, a "Land Use Plan" was adopted
with enthusiastic and overwhelming approval of
the citizenry. But then, only after all this
time, money and effort, parties interested in
commercial exploitation of the land
stepped forth and started to howl.
Now, in sessions closed to public
input, they are influencing the
Commission to secure their inter
ests before ordinances, in accord
with the approved plan, can be
effected to limit exploitation.
Already, a flagrant "land grab" is
in effect in all the areas of the
plan's proposed "greenoelt," a ring of
relatively undeveloped land on the
periphery of Clarke County, to develop as much
of it as possible with subdivisions, etc., before
restrictive ordinances can be effected! The
Commission keeps delaying votes on any such
ordinances, thoroughly providing the impres
sion that they are "in the pocket" of the devel
opers. The citizens who paid for the land use
plan are upset, but far too few are protesting.
(Call your Commissioners, now!)
Here's a solution. No new development in the
proposed "Greenbelt," unless it is solar powered
houses surrounded only by woods and/oi veg
etable gardens, with a very limited allocation
for lawns! (How about a "Lawn Tax" for these
wasteful, useless and toxic decorations!) Better
yet. ban lawn chemical use! Existing lawns can
be "grandfathered in," but discouraged by such
incentives, especially in my neck of the woods
where carcinogenic chemical runoff threatens
the whole town's water supply via the new Bear
Creek reservoir.
Just think of the pride homeowners could
feel when they reply: "I live in the greenbelt!,"
and all that implies in terms of forward
thinking, environmentally-sound living! At
least, current title holders in the proposed
greenbelt immediately need significant tax
breaks, and other incentives, not to develop!
All over the nation, significant "impact fees'
are charged to developers, to help pay for the
ensuing environmental damage and needed
infrastructure improvements their clear-cutting
rampages necessitate. In some places, as high as
12 percent of a new home's selling price must be
paid to the county to cover the costs of new
sewers, schools, etc. Onlv in a few places, like
Georgia, are all the taxpayers made to "mop up"
after the developers have left: and for years to
come! But, similarly, fees need to be levied
upon the most mess-producing businesses in the
downtown area, so that it can be kept clean and
attractive. Then a variety of businesses will be
encouraged to locate there (not just bars and
restaurants) which, by providing all the pur
chasable necessities of life, will encourage stu
dents and others, to live close by—not in the
suburbs, and not dependent on cars.
This, combined with the University's com
mitment to build more student housing on
campus (I encourage a variety of apartment
types—and prices—from the most basic dorms
to " luxury' c?artm n nts, all University-run)
could greatly help mitigate the sprawl and
traffic problems which arc already harming the
quality of life here. Further out, privately-
owned apartment complexes need to provide
shuttle service to campus, or at least, to city
bus lines.
For thousands of years, humans have used
this model, called the "town," comprising cen
tralized areas of manufacturing and commerce,
where transportation, beyond walking, is not
even needed! Only in the last 50 years, due to
automobiles and cheap gas (not cheap for long,
I suspect!!!) has the destructive aberration
known as the suburb taken hold, which will be
looked upon by future generations (if there are
any), as one of mankind's stupidest ideas!
The conscience of Athens-Clarke County tax
payers has spoken in strong affirmation of this
by approving the original land use plan. Heavily
paid for by time, sweat and our tax dollars, and
decided fairly, openly and publicly, it is now
being disemboweled privately in closed sessions
with those who put short-term commercial gain
before traffic, social and truly planetary envi
ronmental concerns! If the ACC Commission con
tinues with, essentially, this breach of promise
to the taxpayers, I request that we are at least
reimbursed horn their own pockets, with sub
stantial penalties for wasting our time and for
helping convert Athens into a Snellville-like
hell.
• Gordon Lee Stelter
"God could put us out of our misery, but He might
as well let us suffer the hell we are creating for
ourselves here, rather than kill us and send us to
hell elsewhere. It's cheaper."
Athens Area Humane Society’s
10th Annual
Dessert Social
& Auction
At Trumps on Thursday, August 17
OVER 60 ITEMS FOR AUCTION:
hangliding lessons at Kitty Hawk,
canoe/kayak rental on the Broad
River, boat and waverunner
rental at Lake Lanier, bed
and breakfast stays,
dinners at area restaurants,
ski lift passes, local artisan
items, signed lithographs from national artists
and much more will be auctioned by nationally
acclaimed auctioneer, Wilbur Mull. ALL PROCEEDS
FROM THE EVENT WILL GO DIRECTLY TO SUPPORT
THE WORK OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
The silent auction opens at 6:30, and the live auction begins at 7:30. Tickets cost $12.00
at the door. A ticket gets you a paddle for the live auction and coffee and dessert. We
have an incredible buffet (all you care to eat 1 of desserts donated by area restaurants,
caterers and private bakers. Trumps provides coffee and a cash bar.
: SUNSHINE
^ CYCLES
At
O
S t RESS allo
FREE STUFF
FREE U-Lock
with purchase of any bike
*
FREE Sunshine Water Bottle
with any purchase
FREE Sunshine T-Shirt
with any purchase over $100
Offer good through August 30 while supplies last.
Mon.-Fri. 10-6 • Sat. 9-6
294 W. Washington St. • 548-6088
BD FLAGPOLE AUGUST 16, 2000