AGGC President Beth Gavrilles' remarks regarding proposed moratorium on Conservation Subdivisions
January 21, 2003

As we pointed out during the debate over the Zoning Ordinance, there are numerous problems with our conservation subdivision regulations. They allow excessive density bonuses; they don't require permanent protection of the open space; and the allowed uses of open space are very lenient. Perhaps their greatest flaw, though, is that they do nothing to prevent sprawl, because they are allowed in the AR zone, formerly known as our "greenbelt."

The Conservation Subdivision regulations are part of our zoning and development ordinance, and we believe that the entire ordinance needs to be revised in order to bring it into line with the Guiding Principles of our Comprehensive Land Use Plan. One goal of the Guiding Principles is to prevent sprawl, and the Plan makes it clear that this means we don't want significant residential development taking place in the AR zone. The proposed moratorium on Conservation Subdivisions would be a first step toward this goal. But in order to allow property owners in the AR to retain the economic benefit of their land, we believe the county should establish a Transferable Development Rights program, so that rural landowners can sell their rights to develop for use in more appropriate locations. To make a TDR program work, however, we will need to take a hard look at all of our zoning densities throughout the county. We believe it makes more sense to consider these issues together, rather than separately.

Further, recent experiences have shown that there are other, very serious, problems with our design standards, which have led to significant erosion and sedimentation. These problems are not limited to Conservation Subdivisions, but they certainly need to be addressed right away.

A little later this evening you will hear about a report compiled by a coalition of environmentally-concerned Citizens' groups - which includes Grow Green - which lays out what these groups consider the priorities for environmental protection for Athens-Clarke County. Revising the Conservation Subdivision regulations is on that list, and there are detailed recommendations about the major changes that ought to be made.

So while we urge you to consider a more comprehensive temporary development moratorium, we hope you will at the very least vote for a temporary moratorium on Conservation Subdivisions until the regulations are revised so that they function as they were intended.