State Senate

District 46:
Haines
Kemp

District 1:
Carter
Garland

District 3:
Maxwell
Robinson

District 5:
Logan
Lynn

District 7:
Bushnell
Hoard
Vaughan

District 9:
Chasteen

Mayor:
Davison

Kathy Hoard (Democrat) - District 7

Candidate Questionnaire

Please note that the opinions expressed in this section are not those of Athens Grow Green Coalition, Inc., but are those of the candidate to whom they are attributed.

1. In 1999, the Commission unanimously approved our anti-sprawl Comprehensive Land Use Plan, a document created with widespread community support. This plan calls for preservation of the environment, responsible development, alternatives to automobile transportation, and the prevention of sprawl. It designates the outer fringe of the county as a greenbelt, with only low-density residential development allowed there. In 2000, however, the Commission passed a zoning ordinance that allowed suburban development at one unit per acre in the greenbelt, despite public outcry for an ordinance that more closely followed the Land Use Plan. Many agree that it is now even more important to address the impacts of sprawl development, such as declining air quality, rapid loss of forested land, and poor water quality, all of which have figured prominently in ACC news reports in recent months.

1. Do you believe the current zoning ordinance adequately protects Athens-Clarke County from sprawl? NO
   "I feel the current zoning ordinance is an improvement over our previous one in some areas, such as the inclusion of design standards. However, it is my opinion that the allowance of one dwelling unit per acre in our county's rural areas is more in keeping with urban zoning patterns and not appropriate density for rural zones."
2. Would you support implementation of a Transferable Development Rights program to protect open space and direct growth? YES
3. Do you think trees need stronger protection in ACC? Would you support a tree canopy protection ordinance to prevent clear-cutting of lots for development? MAYBE
   "Like most citizens, I recognize the community benefits of public and private trees. If elected to serve, I will consider additional regulations and incentives to increase the protection of existing trees and the adition of new trees that maintain and enhance the urban canopy. However, in response to the question posed, I would need to review the specifics of any ordinance before endorsing it."
4. Do you think ACC needs to do more to enhance alternative transportation options - such as more and improved sidewalks, bike lanes, public transit - to reduce traffic congestion? YES
   "I would like for our community to look at transportation more globally, with different modes of transportation integrated, rather than separated; i.e., a street network that is planned to accommodate cars, buses, bicycles and pedestrians, with none threatening the safety of others."
5. Do you think that protecting greenspace helps or harms our local economy? HELPS
   

What else might local government do to combat sprawl?

"Our government can combat sprawl by educating its residents that smart growth -- using existing infrastructure and channeling new development into already developed areas of our community -- pays...not only in strict financial terms, but aesthetically as well, and can prove to provide a sense of place to our community. In order for such a program to succeed, zoning laws and design standards must be invoked and transportation issues addressed before development proceeds.

Some of the most desirable neighborhoods in our country, Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA, have densely populated inner city and fringe suburban areas; but design guidelines, strict zoning standards, and transportation planning have made them extremely desirable places in which to live. It can also be done here."

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2. Over a year ago, Enron Corp. proposed building a natural gas-fired power plant in Athens. While it is highly unlikely that Enron will be able to undertake such a project, other energy companies may be interested in the location because of its confluence of natural gas and electric transmission lines. Many citizens have raised concerns about the potential environmental impacts of such a project, including degraded air and water quality, and a projected doubling of ACC's consumptive water use. Proponents of the proposal touted a positive impact on our tax base (an increase of about 1.5%)

1. Do you think a natural gas-fired power plant would be good for Athens? Would the benefits outweigh the costs? NO
2. Would you support such a proposal? NO
3. Do you believe that protecting environmental quality is incompatible with protecting jobs and tax revenue? NO
4. Would you support development of a long-term water management plan for Athens-Clarke County? YES
   

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3. The eviction of nearly 500 Garden Springs residents focused attention on the issue of affordable housing in Athens. Athens-Clarke County has large low-income and student populations, presenting very different housing challenges to our community?

1. Do you think that current planning and development in the county adequately address the housing needs of these two populations? YES/NO
   "I have difficulty assessing the housing needs of the total student ppulation in concert with the needs of low-income residents. Certainly, there are many students who are not wealthy and for whom low-income housing is needed. However, the large number of student oriented apartment complexes and houses with rents exceeding $1,000 per month appear to be occupied. In my own neighborhood, student renters have effectively boosted rental property rates above the level of what moderate income single professionals and families can afford, effectively blocking them out of the housing market. I would prefer to address the needs of low-income residents as a singular group, regardless of occupation; and, to my knowledge, there is limited planning -- if any -- to address the needs of low AND MODERATE income residents of our community."
2. Do you believe that Athens has plenty of low-income housing? NO
3. Is preserving low-income residents' access to affordable housing a priority of yours? YES
4. Is growth management a priority of yours? YES
5. Do you think that preserving affordable housing and growth management are incompatible goals? NO

What might local government do to increase affordable housing options?

"I feel our community should:

1. Seriously look at what other communities with successful programs have done from the initation prpcess to the placement of people in homes.
2. Determine what grant opportunities are available for affordable housing.

I am aware that other communities have successfully integrated affordable housing into both new and infill developments with no loss of property value or quality of living to those in the more expensive housing units. This planning concept should be explored."

4. Sembler Corp. recently sued the Georgia EPD to be allowed to pipe a stream on a piece of property it plans to develop for a new Target store, in direct conflict with Athens-Clarke County's 75-foot stream buffer ordinance. Those who supported Sembler's lawsuit argued that Athens-Clarke County cannot afford to lose a business that might choose to locate elsewhere if required to conform to our environmental regulations. Others contend that many communities have held developers to strict standards without losing businesses, and that these standards ultimately protect the economy as well as the environment of our community.

1. Are you willing to risk losing a business or development in order to protect the health of our local streams, rivers and drinking water supply? YES
   "Any candidate or elected official who is anti-business will soon find that such a mindset will not sustain our local economy. However, not all business and industry is desirable. Our community's resources, renewable and otherwise, should not be put at risk to attract a commercial enterprise, which may have only a limited or short term economic benefit to Athens-Clarke County."
2. Do you believe that Athens-Clarke County's environmental regulations are at odds with business development? NO
   "It is my understanding that our environmental regulations are only marginally more stringent than the State's. One of the wonderful benefits of living in Athens is its remarkable environment, but we do see documented waterway and air quality deterioration that is undeniable. As a serious candidate for the County Commission, I cannot ignore this evidence. I do not believe that economic development and quality of life are incompatible; we should work as a community to achieve both."

Biographical Sketch

Civic: Past and/or current boardmember of the following: Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation; Athens Community Council on Aging; Athens Boys and Girls Club; Lanier Gardens/Talmage Terrace; Midtown Neighborhood Association. Hearing officer, Athens Housing Authority. Recipient, Eve Award for Outstanding Public Service to ACC.

Professional: Office manager, University of Georgia, College of Agriculture, 22 years.

Government: Member, Athens City Council, 3 terms (1985-1990); Athens Public Safety Chairperson, appointed; Chairperson, Athens City Council Zoning Committee; Mayor Pro-Tempore, Athens.