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

2002 Candidate Questionnaire

The questionnaire was mailed to all candidates for mayor and commission. Six candidates did not return the questionnaire to us: Dean Clark, Hugh Logan, Bill Bushnell, David Redman, Tom Chasteen, and Tracy Smith.

Yes/No answers are hyperlinked to the candidate's additional comments, if any.

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.

a. Do you believe the current zoning ordinance adequately protects Athens-Clarke County from sprawl?

b. Would you support implementation of a Transferable Development Rights program to protect open space and direct growth?

c. 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?

d. 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?

e. Do you think that protecting greenspace helps or harms our local economy?

What else might local government do to combat sprawl?

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%)

a. Do you think a natural gas-fired power plant would be good for Athens? Would the benefits outweigh the costs?

b. Would you support such a proposal?

c. Do you believe that protecting environmental quality is incompatible with protecting jobs and tax revenue?

d. Would you support development of a long-term water management plan for Athens-Clarke County?

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.

a. Do you think that current planning and development in the county adequately address the housing needs of these two populations?

b. Do you believe that Athens has plenty of low-income housing?

c. Is preserving low-income residents' access to affordable housing a priority of yours?

d. Is growth management a priority of yours?

e. Do you think that preserving affordable housing and growth management are incompatible goals?

What might local government do to increase affordable housing options?

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.

a. 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?

b. Do you believe that Athens-Clarke County's environmental regulations are at odds with business development?