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1 Land Use, Planning and Zoning.
In 2000 the Commission passed a zoning ordinance that allowed suburban
development at one unit per acre in the AR zone. In 2003 the Zoning
and Development Standards were revised to change the AR zoning to
1 unit per 10 acres, and to remove some loopholes from the Conservation
Subdivision regulations.
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| AGGC |
Jordan (D, I) |
Beal (R) |
|
| 1.a Do you believe that with these revisions
the current zoning ordinance is adequate to protect Athens-Clarke
County from sprawl? |
| N |
N |
Y |
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| 1.b If not, what else can and should local
government do to curb sprawl? |
| |
The one-per-ten-acres zone helps enormously by limiting
dwelling units and counterproductive public investment. But it is
not sufficient to curb sprawl. (In last year’s vote, I preferred
a 1-per-5 acre standard, with mandatory conservation subdivisions.)
Impact fees help, but pay for only some of the incremental public
costs. If you are going to protect the fringe, you must attract and
accommodate growth elsewhere. Most essential are policies and infrastructure
to accommodate “good” growth, compact and consistent with
natural-resource protection. In the short run, public investment for
accommodating compact growth (provision for commerce, recreation,
transit, public spaces, etc.) may be even greater than that of delivering
services over sprawling areas. But the net benefits are the longer-term,
positive impacts on “livability,” including air and water
quality. |
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| 1.c The new conservation subdivision regulations
contain requirements for identification and protection of significant
natural areas. Do you support extending these requirements to other
types of development? |
| Y |
Y - Yes, together with appropriate design standards
(including phased construction, infiltrative stormwater management,
protection of soils and vegetation). But a realization of the conservation-subdivision
vision is not automatic. We need to address the quality and allocation
of open space, plus correct bonus-unit and common-wall abuses. |
N |
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| 1.d Do you support adding
an Urban Planner position to the Planning Department? |
| Y |
Y - Yes, given that the Planning Department appears
to be understaffed. |
N |
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| 1.e Do you support implementing
a Neighborhood Planning Unit program? |
| Y |
N - No, because in Athens, with effective representation,
our small grass-roots Commission districts can readily take the place
of the localized neighborhood political units that are more essential
in a city the size of Atlanta. |
N |
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| 1.f What other
suggestions, if any, do you have for improving the process of neighborhood
input? |
| |
There are many steps we could take that would be short
of a full-blown, bureaucratic, NPU program, yet still facilitate neighborhood
involvement. An example of one such step (already being implemented)
is the mailing of notices to residents within 400 feet of a rezone
site. My suggestions for greater neighborhood involvement all center
on the concept of providing as much information as possible to the
impacted citizens---including the web posting of maps and site plans
relating to pending rezone, subdivision, and variance applications. |
Neighborhood awareness rests on the
sold responsibility of their staying aware of development activity
and issues. Residents must assume responsibility of issues and be
dedicated to understanding. It is my own responsibility to be aware
of what affects me and then take a stand. Neighborhood input depends
on active people! |
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2 Natural Resources.
The Commission recently voted to temporarily extend 75-foot riparian
buffer protection to all perennial streams in ACC. Acting under state
and federal requirements, the Commission also adopted new erosion
and sedimentation and stormwater management ordinances that are meant
to protect water quality.
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| AGGC |
Jordan (D, I) |
Beal (R) |
|
| 2.a Are you in favor
of permanently extending 75-foot riparian buffer protection to all
perennial streams in ACC? |
| Y |
Y - Yes, I know of no single measure that is
more critical to riparian vitality and flood management. I also advocate
adding the presumption that all streams downhill of a 25-acre watershed
are perennial, unless otherwise determined by field survey. |
N |
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| 2.b Do you support the
creation of a stormwater utility to fund stormwater management? |
| Y |
Y - Yes. The costs of private activities with
public impacts should not be shifted to the public at large. |
N |
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| 2.c Do you think ACC
needs to do more to enhance alternative transportation options? |
| Y |
Y - Yes. We are always better off when offered
more choices, particularly where cost effective. |
N |
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| 2.d Do you support the
rail-to-trail project, including the bridges which will provide a
level connection from the Greenway to the Multi-Modal center? |
| Y |
Y - Yes, given their benefit-cost ratio far exceeds
that of road-widening alternatives. |
N |
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| 2.e ACC’s tree canopy
has declined significantly during the last 20 years, and the rate
of decline is accelerating. Do you support adopting a tree protection
ordinance to prevent clear-cutting for development? |
| Y |
Y - Yes. I support the guiding principles recently
forwarded by the Community Tree Council to the Mayor and Commission.
I also advocate a tree-credit provision in the forthcoming stormwater-fee
structure. |
Y |
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| 2.f Do you support the
SPLOST 2005 proposals for funding the protection of greenspace? |
| Y |
Y |
Y |
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| 2.g What else can ACC
do to protect greenspace? |
| |
Aside from a stormwater utility and provisions for conservation
subdivisions, I support the purchase of particularly productive and
sensitive environmental sites, the protection and replanting of urban-tree
canopy, and a vigorous TDR program as an alternative to gifting rezones. |
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3 Affordable Housing.
Affordable housing has been a topic of debate for several years. Mobile
home parks and low-priced apartment buildings continue to be converted
to other uses, and the value of land close to downtown (and accessible
to services) is rising dramatically, leading to the frequent displacement
of low-income families and individuals. Much of the housing that is
affordable to low-income residents is in substandard condition, and
/or located far from access to services.
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| AGGC |
Jordan (D, I) |
Beal (R) |
|
| 3.a Is preserving low-income residents'
access to safe, decent, accessible affordable housing a priority of
yours? |
| Y |
Y |
Y |
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| 3.b Should it be a priority of local
government? |
| Y |
Y - Yes, but with minimal, direct, public involvement. |
N |
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| 3.c What will you do to increase safe,
decent, accessible affordable housing options in ACC? |
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Require some pricing diversity within large multifamily
projects or residential subdivisions. Also, require that any business
that establishes or grows itself in the community, which has a significant
impact on the local labor market, certify the availability of local,
long-term housing for the income range of its anticipated employees. |
Actively approach affordable housing
with HUD approved specifications and lowest cost/square foot costs.
There are some options of top quality homes available that will apply
in many cases, some in most cases. This issue is Clarke County vital
- I will be pro-active on this issue! |
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| 3.d Some communities in Georgia, such
as Americus and Valdosta, have affordable housing goals that include
having no substandard housing within their communities. Do you think
Athens should adopt such a goal? |
| Y |
Y - Of course. We already have building codes
that preclude unsafe or unhealthy environments. But in those instances
where compliance is lax, enforcement is hampered by new state restrictions
on regulatory access and inspection. |
N/A |
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4 Business and the Environment.
There has recently been much debate over whether government
decisions that provide environmental protection (riparian buffers,
revisions to the conservation subdivision regulations, etc.) are
“unfriendly” to business.
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| AGGC |
Jordan (D, I) |
Beal (R) |
|
| 4.a Do you believe that Athens-Clarke
County's environmental regulations are at odds with business development?
|
| N |
N - No, because they ultimately lower taxes,
protect public health, and attract quality growth. |
N/A |
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| 4.b What kinds of businesses should
Athens try to attract? |
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We should try to attract businesses or industries that
appreciate and are eager to participate in maintaining or improving
our quality of life. |
N/A |
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