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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