Do we

really need this rezoning, is there a compelling benefit

for the current citizens, will it reduce taxes, will it

improve the quality of life for all of Fayette County?

This

property is currently legally zoned and can be developed

as zoned. If Mr. Busey wants to sue the county to try to

get a higher density, that is his right. I have full

confidence in our county attorney Bill McNally for a

quick decisive victory.

This

property is currently zoned for 31 homes. Mr. Busey wants

to double that to 61 lots. That is an increase of 30 more

lots than currently zoned, an almost 100 percent increase

in density.

I will

address the cost of just the increased 30 lots to the

citizens of Fayette County. 30 lots at 1.5 children per

new home equals 45 more students for the school system.

Forty-five more students will mean an addition of at

least two more trailers to the 97 we have now, two more

teachers, and one more bus.

At $2,207

county cost per student, that is a $100,000 increase to

the school system budget. To build new classrooms to move

those children into permanent buildings will cost almost

$500,000, half a million dollars to come from SPLOST, if

passed. This is just one rezoning vote, in one night.

Traffic now

is a mess, and the 30 lots added to this development will

further congest all the roads of Fayette County by an

addition of 300 vehicle trips per day. So much for the

air pollution problem.

Mr. Busey

in the past has said he has paid taxes on his properties

and should be allowed to develop the way he wants to. I

say that all the taxpayers of Fayette County have as

large an investment in these properties as Mr. Busey. We

have paid the taxes to improve the roads, fire, police,

schools and other parts of the infrastructure. His taxes

and ours have improved the value of his property.

A vote for

higher density is a vote for higher taxes for all the

citizens of Fayette County. Develop the currently rezoned

lots first, before you rezone more.

I have

never opposed commercial growth because commercial pays

for itself; residential development costs three dollars

for each dollar of taxes taken in.

You have

been called a "No Growth" Commission by some of

the failed politicians and developers in our county. Many

of them are responsible for our current problems.

To develop

this and other properties as currently zoned is not

"no growth"; it is prudent, sustainable,

affordable and smart growth, certainly not a drawbridge

mentality.

We elect

you to solve problems, not create them, and I look

forward to a unanimous vote to deny this rezoning and

preserve the quality of this great county of Fayette that

we call home.

Bob

Craft

Fayette

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