Brian Kemp (Republican)
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.
Affordable Housing
Question:
According to a study recently released by the Athens-Clarke County Department
of Housing & Economic Development, affordable housing for very low
income residents continues to be a challenge in Athens. What can be done
at the state level to help? What have you done, and what will you do,
to improve access to decent, stable affordable housing for those of low
and very low income?
Answer:
I strongly believe that Seniors on limited incomes and other poor citizens
in northeast Georgia should not be forced out of their homes to make way
for new developments. The leadership that I offer starts with my expertise
in the development field and my proven ability to motivate all the different
interest groups to work together. With this background, I believe I can
help northeast Georgia provide better affordable housing options for the
poor and senior citizens with an effective, realistic plan.
I propose the creation of a state and local Affordable Housing Initiative.
The state should establish guidelines for affordable housing projects
and as a financial incentive provide tax credits to developers who build
them. The state should also provide direct assistance in the form of grants
to counties to help offset the expense of providing infrastructure such
as roads, sewer and water to affordable housing projects. The state can
also provide assistance to counties to offset the expenses associated
with the development of a website listing affordable housing options and
encourage counties to adopt an Affordable Housing Zoning classification
which includes special exemptions from bureaucratic paperwork and special
property tax breaks.
Whatever solution we find, it must be realistic. I hope to put my professional
expertise to work to find workable, realistic, and most importantly, effective
solutions to this growing problem.
Water
Question:
What can be done at the state level to ensure that our water is clean
and plentiful? What have you done, and what will you do to improve water
quality? What have you done and what will you do to ensure that we have
enough water, both for our use and to maintain a healthy aquatic habitat
in our rivers and streams?
Answer:
Again, I refer to my professional background in the development industry
and my service as a Member of the Steering Committee for the Comprehensive
Land Use Plan for Athens-Clarke County, the Transition Advisory Committee,
and the Waste Water Advisory Committee.
Athens-Clarke County inspectors will confirm that I have always gone
above and beyond what is required by law to build clean developments and
protect our environment and water resources.
I understand the need for strong regulations to protect our water resources.
As President of the Homebuilders Association, I advocated doubling the
state required protective buffers around our water sources. If elected,
I will push to increase the state's minimum required buffer to help protect
streams and rivers across the state.
I made a pledge to the voters of the district to protect our water resources,
implement responsible water conservation measures, and that I will fight
any attempt my Atlanta or anyone else to take away our water resources,
especially the Bear Creek Reservoir, which was paid for by the citizens
of Clarke, Oconee, Barrow and Jackson Counties.
I strongly support the development and quick execution of a comprehensive
water management plan that includes strict protective measures and the
development of new resources to provide the water we need in the future.
During my public service, I have worked hard to develop a reputation
with county officials, the development community, neighborhood groups,
and the environmental community as a consensus builder and thoughtful
leader. If elected, I will put every effort into delivering what I have
promised here.
Growth and development
Question:
Athens has been nationally recognized as one of the fastest sprawling
areas in the U.S. What can be done at the state level to curb sprawl?
What have you done and what will you do to help prevent sprawl and its
associated problems?
Answer:
I believe the key to smart growth is effective planning.
As a builder and through my experience on local government committees
such as the Athens-Clarke County Comprehensive Land Use Study Committee,
I understand the need to manage growth responsibly and the difficulties
many communities face in trying to do so.
Georgia needs bold leadership on a state level to help guide and manage
our growth. One relatively simple step to help manage growth would be
for the state to require counties to coordinate their Comprehensive Land
Use Plans with adjacent counties.
I will work with the Department of Transportation to increase local road
funding to help reduce traffic and increase funding for effective and
common sense transportation alternatives such a rail service and express
bus service. We can reduce traffic and have cleaner air with the right
mix of transportation options.
Transportation Alternatives
Question:
Air quality, water quality, and public health are all negatively impacted
by our excessive dependence on the automobile for transportation. What
kinds of alternatives to automobile transportation do you support? What
have you done and will you do to help us to expand our transportation
choices here in Athens?
Answer:
In brief, I refer to my previous answer. I will work with the Department
of Transportation to increase local road funding to help reduce traffic
and increase funding for effective and common sense transportation alternatives
such a rail service and express bus service. We can reduce traffic and
have cleaner air with the right mix of transportation options. New bike
lanes and other transportation options have been a step in the right direction
here in our community. I believe the answer is in balance, not in exclusive
approaches.
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