I am writing this in response to the Nov. 8, 2011 letter to the editor entitled, “Brown’s ‘camp’ will destroy resident’s peace.”
Mrs. Saul’s letter is full of misinformation and unwarranted personal attacks. It states that Mr. Brown has set out to “destroy our way of life.”
I’m a resident in close proximity to the proposed site of Camp Southern Ground and nothing could be further from the truth.
Before the property was purchased by Mr. Brown, our road (Arnold Road, which is off of Ebenezer Church Road) was crowded with dump trucks shuttling back and forth down Arnold Road from dawn to dusk from this same property because the previous owner was busy selling dirt to a local topsoil dealer. These trucks were a nuisance and I often feared for the safety of my three young children much less for the damage they did to our road.
Thanks to Mr. Brown, that has stopped. In response to the construction traffic, I will be directly affected and I am not worried because Ebenezer Church is a designated “collector” road on the Fayette County Thoroughfare Plan and is completely appropriate for this type of use.
Traffic: There won’t be 300 cars a day. Most campers will remain overnight and arrival/departure times will be staggered to minimize impact. This will not significantly impact traffic; it may actually slow some of the speeders down on Ebenezer Church. Right now, school congestion is the biggest challenge in the morning but camp traffic is a summer event when schools aren’t in session.
Irate neighbors: I’m not sure which “irate” neighbors Mrs. Saul speaks of, but the neighbors I know in the area are fully supportive. They voiced this at the Fayette Planning Commission meeting and public hearing on Nov. 3.
Mr. Brown is not “stuffing this down our throats.” He has abided by all of the necessary rules and regulations for the rezoning.
And this is not a “tax-free” operation as Mrs. Saul suggested. She should know if she attended the meeting. Although Camp Southern Ground will be operated as a not-for-profit, the land is privately held and will be leased back so taxes will be paid as required by law.
Noise: I wonder if the couple that voiced their dismay with the project because of noise would rather have a 50-home subdivision in their back yard. Mr. Brown’s camp has less impact and he is actually taking measures to position the structures on the opposite side of the site so any noise would be far away and buffered by vegetation.
As a Christian, I am disappointed with Mrs. Saul’s attack on Mr. Brown’s comment that God was good to him for giving him the opportunity to build the camp. This personal attack has no place in a rational discussion on the issue. Mr. Brown’s honest attempt to express his motivations about the camp are sincere and good-natured.
Mrs. Saul’s comment that Zac Brown and his camp could find property in an area that wouldn’t affect houses and people around it reeks of the “Not-In-My-Backyard” mentality. Change often brings the worst out of some people. Camp Southern Ground is change that has been well thought out and will benefit our community, and more importantly, our children.
In closing, I want to reiterate that this property, under the current agricultural zoning, could accommodate 50 homes. The proposed camp would preserve a beautiful piece of land for future generations through a thoughtful and generous philanthropist who lives here too.
I proudly display a bumper sticker on my car that says, “I support Camp Southern Ground.” I urge other members of the community to do the same, as well as contact the Fayette County Board of Commissioners with your support.
Marcus I. Valdes
Fayetteville, Ga.
