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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 |
Kinman (D) |
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| 1.a Do you believe that with these revisions
the current zoning ordinance is adequate to protect Athens-Clarke
County from sprawl? |
| N |
N |
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| 1.b If not, what else can and should local
government do to curb sprawl? |
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The conservation subdivision ordinance, as revised last
year, should be an effective tool in curbing tendencies toward sprawl,
but it cannot do the job by itself. I believe we need to move forward
on getting a TDR program in Athens-Clarke County. This would create
another tool for encouraging higher densities in town while allowing
land owners to realize some of the development value of their land.
One obstacle to establishing a TDR program is the reluctance of in-town
residents to accept higher densities in their neighborhoods. I believe
local government can effectively address this problem by reorganizing
the Planning Department to be more neighborhood-oriented. For example,
a neighborhood planner could be assigned the task of assisting neighborhood
groups in devising a neighborhood plan. These plans, in turn, would
be valuable resources for developers, planners, and politicians alike
in their efforts toward responsible, beneficial, and profitable land
use. |
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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 |
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| 1.d Do you support adding
an Urban Planner position to the Planning Department? |
| Y |
Y |
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| 1.e Do you support implementing
a Neighborhood Planning Unit program? |
| Y |
Y |
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| 1.f What other
suggestions, if any, do you have for improving the process of neighborhood
input? |
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The Planning Department should be organized around neighborhood-based
planning. There are a number of models for this type of organization,
and we already have several people on staff who are trained in neighborhood-based
planning. Whatever form it takes, this reorganization would allocate
staff resources toward working with existing neighborhood organizations
to define neighborhood borders and write neighborhood plans that are
in line with the Land Use Plan. Other resources would be allocated
for reaching out to neighborhoods that do not yet have a formal organization
and providing assistance to them in setting one up. In time, these
organizations would receive support to write neighborhood plans. I
believe that a strong network of truly representative neighborhood
organizations would be a powerful tool not only for neighborhood preservation
and improvement but also for planning and development. |
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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 |
Kinman (D) |
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| 2.a Are you in favor
of permanently extending 75-foot riparian buffer protection to all
perennial streams in ACC? |
| Y |
Y |
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| 2.b Do you support the
creation of a stormwater utility to fund stormwater management? |
| Y |
Y |
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| 2.c Do you think ACC
needs to do more to enhance alternative transportation options? |
| Y |
Y |
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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 |
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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 |
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| 2.f Do you support the
SPLOST 2005 proposals for funding the protection of greenspace? |
| Y |
Y |
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| 2.g What else can ACC
do to protect greenspace? |
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I believe that establishing a TDR program must be a
top priority in our efforts to preserve greenspace. |
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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 |
Kinman (D) |
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| 3.a Is preserving low-income residents'
access to safe, decent, accessible affordable housing a priority of
yours? |
| Y |
Y |
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| 3.b Should it be a priority of local
government? |
| Y |
Y |
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| 3.c What will you do to increase safe,
decent, accessible affordable housing options in ACC? |
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The problem of affordable housing is complex. Solving
it will require vital and ongoing partnerships among government, developers,
financers, non-profits such as Athens Land Trust, and a host of social
service organizations. We will not succeed without a serious commitment
to working together. Government can provide leadership in establishing
these partnerships. Government can also take steps toward a neighborhood-based
planning system. Close contact between Planning staff and neighborhood
organizations would provide an opportunity for government and citizens
to work together in understanding the need for affordable housing
and identifying the best locations for new development. |
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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 |
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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 |
Kinman (D) |
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| 4.a Do you believe that Athens-Clarke
County's environmental regulations are at odds with business development?
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| N |
N |
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| 4.b What kinds of businesses should
Athens try to attract? |
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There is no silver-bullet industry that will provide
healthy, sustainable prosperity forever. Economic development activities
need to be very broad-based. Certainly, the hospitality industry has
great potential to grow. While this is an industry that generates
a large number of low-paid jobs, it also has potential to bring in
a good number of hotel and restaurant management jobs. I also believe
Athens-Clarke can increase its profile as a major center for the arts.
While attracting tourists to our area, this industry can also provide
a number of professional-managerial jobs. There is much discussion
of biotech industry, which we must certainly recruit, as long as we
understand that these industries require significant time and development
before they begin to provide good jobs for existing residents. New
media technology is also very promising, but must also be understood
as something to start growing now in the hopes of future benefits.
I believe that local government has a role to play in attracting new
business to Athens. In particular, it can foster partnerships between
the business community and UGA. However, one of the most powerful
economic development tools – a high quality of life – is the responsibility
of local government and should be our first priority. |
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