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Saturday, November 17, 2007
“An emerging war: rustic versus retail”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The issue is bigger, really, than strawberries and strip malls.
Crown Point Properties of Loganville wants to build a 94,200-square-foot strip center at Ga. 20, Willowwind Drive and Bay Creek Road. The project would eat up 10 acres of a popular pick-and-pay strawberry field at Washington Farms near Loganville.
Opponents jokingly call themselves the “strawberry people.” They have passed out fliers, rallied neighbors and implored the county to stop the project. They even have a blog (www.savethestrawberryfields.blogspot.com).
Last week, the “strawberry people” e-mailed an invitation for the Badie Tour to visit their little corner of Gwinnett. Even offered to serve coffee and a strawberry-themed treat. Given the holiday deadline for my Thursday column, though, a tour stop wasn’t possible before Nov. 27. That’s when the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners is to consider whether to grant a rezoning request that would pave the way for the paving over of the strawberry field.
The “strawberry people” are to be commended for their efforts. Democracy in action. They were given hope on Nov. 6, when the Gwinnett County Planning Commission recommended denial of the project. The drought and water consumption, the body said in a 7-1 vote, were reason enough to say no.
I don’t know how much weight county officials will give that recommendation. There are other factors to weigh, though. We live in a county whose modus operandi seems to be build-now, worry later. Quality-of-life suffers because of it. Some commercial and residential developments clog roads, pack schools and strain other segments of the infrastructure.
Ridiculously so.
Diane N. Bates, one of the “strawberry people,” says there’s evidence aplenty in the shape of empty buildings and vacant offices on Ga. 20 between Grayson and Loganville. She blames a “build it and they will come environment,” one that has prevailed in the county for years.
No matter where they live in Gwinnett, even the most aloof residents would have to say “amen.” Nail salons, sub shops, cleaners and wing joints rule the roost. Hard to make sense of it all. And because of that, some of us tend to see red when the county green lights certain projects.
Still, we can’t forget one pesky, pertinent factor. Landowners pretty much have the right to do what they please with their land. No, it’s not absolute. But as long as it’s in accordance with zoning classifications _ or in the case of the Loganville project, acceptable rezoning requests _ it’s allowable.
The Loganville issue highlights another issue, too, something District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau calls an emerging “tug of war.” It pits development against rural, or semi-rural, enclaves. Rustic versus retail, if you will.
People like Diane and Lamar Bates were attracted to Loganville’s country flavor. Open space. Llama and horse farms. Tranquility. Two-lane roads. Bay Creek Road is so narrow that, when a car and truck approach in opposite directions, one has to stop so the other may pass.
Then, next thing you know, retail/office centers started popping up. One after the other. Keep this up, residents reason, and they’ll soon live near another Memorial Drive or U.S. 78. They don’t want that.
So the “strawberry people” fight.
Several years ago, the same parcel of property in Loganville was slated for a gas station. Residents raised up then, too. For whatever reasons, the developer pulled out.
Opponents of the current proposed project hope for a repeat.
That way, they can have their strawberry field a little longer, but it’s doubtful it will last forever.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail rbadie@ajc.com.
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