I am writing in support of Camp Southern Ground. Of all the neighbors affected by the rezoning request for the camp, I will be affected as much as anyone.
I share over 1,500 feet of property line with the subject property; whatever happens there, I will see and hear. My driveway is immediately adjacent to the proposed entrance to the camp; when I’m coming and going I’ll be in whatever seasonal traffic there is.
But when I think of the housing development that could be built on the property, I see more rooftops, year round traffic, more tax burden for police/fire services as well as additional impact on our schools that always follow housing developments.
Residential development does not pay its way when it comes to either emergency services or roads, so the last thing I feel we need is more rooftops in central Fayette County.
Further, the property has significant wetlands and woods, which are important to protect. The plans for the camp are very cognizant of the woods and wetlands and the camp will help maintain the rural character of the county as well as our air quality and the water quality of Whitewater Creek.
After attending the Planning and Zoning public hearing and reading the objections in the local paper, I recognize several issues that are creating the most concern. First is the traffic, the second being noise.
And now that I have seen the site plan for the camp, I see plans for an organic garden and who knows how many long-haired, barefoot hippies that will bring to the area.
The traffic issue has been studied and addressed in the rezoning request. The proposed directions to the camp will bring most campers in from the west, so there will be a dedicated deceleration/turn lane off of Ebenezer Church Road on the eastbound side.
This use of deceleration/turn lanes is similar to three other deceleration/turn lanes already in use on Ebenezer Church Road at Hillred, Martha’s Cove, and Hideaway.
This deceleration/turn lane will be at the primary entrance to the camp for the campers and their families. If necessary, Arnold Road is available for emergency response but only if needed.
I’ve seen no provisions for a flow-through plan that exits the camp onto Arnold Road. The new entrance road to the camp from Ebenezer Church will be the first construction project completed, so Arnold Road should see no traffic from the camp at all.
As for the noise, county noise restrictions always apply. Personally, the sound of children playing in the great outdoors, therapeutic horseback riding on nature trails and, yes, even sing-a-longs around an evening campfire, do not constitute noise to me. Actually, what lovely sounds indeed?
The site plan is very accommodating to the neighbors with setbacks and buffers to ameliorate noise and light pollution and with the property heavily wooded little impact should be noticed.
What this boils down to is a rezoning request for a property in central Fayette County that will be an asset to our community. Wetlands and woodlands will be preserved and the rural nature of the property will be maintained. I support the rezoning request so that Camp Southern Ground can become a reality.
Oh, and as for the organic garden, Fayette County definitely needs more organic gardeners.
Larry Dove
Fayette County, Ga.
