December 6, 2004

Has a Deal Been Struck in Oconee County?

By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc.

Oconee County seems on the verge of approving the largest residential development in the history of the county- and one of the largest in the Northeast Georgia area.   Yet rumors abound about discussions and commitments made by the county months ago before the rezone hearing  process even started?  There are some letters of interest about sewer and infrastructure representations, if not commitments.  SEE COPIES BELOW

The December 7 BOC Agenda has more residential and commercial rezones, in size, than have occurred annually in years past in Oconee County.

There have been rumors for months about discussions between the developers and the county.   Questions have been raised about sewer capacity, transportation planning (County and State Roads Capability), impact on schools etc.  However, it appears the County has been satisfied privately with these issues.

The Rezone public hearing for December 7 appears to be just another hoop to jump through- inconvenient but not formidable.    Comments by Chairman Davis in the 12-6-04 issue of the Athens Banner-Herald demonstrate his impatience with the Hearing process.  ….”  “…... "I don't care if there is 23 or 40 that sign up, they're going to have 20 minutes," Davis said. …..

QUESTIONS: 

1. How much sewer capacity is needed? 
2. How much does the county have? 
3. Has the capacity been paid for? 
4. Does this project mean the $
   26 Million Master Wastewater Plan has been accepted as a “done deal”- to be done in increments?

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September 20, 2004

Oconee County Board of Commissioners

Oconee County Public Utilities

P.O. Box 145

Watkinsville, Georgia 30677

COPY

HAND DELIVERED

RE: Parkside Development Sanitary Sewer

This letter agreement will confirm the development plans of Plant A Seed, L.L.C., developer of Parkside Development. for sanitary sewer service to the project. If available at the time of development of this project, we agree to connect into and utilize the public sewer system of Oconee County, Georgia. If capacity is not available at the time of development of this project, we agree to pay the necessary capacity and connection fees to advance the construction of an upgrade to the existing County facility (LAS) on Rocky Branch Road to 1 MGD.

We hope this letter agreement adequately addresses the sewer needs of this project. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Plant  A Seed, L.L.C.

(Signed)

By:       _______________________________

                        Mark L. Jennings, Managing Member

The terms of this letter agreement are acceptable to the Oconee County, Georgia Public Utilities Department.

Oconee County Georgia Public Utilities

By:       __(Signed)___________________

            Gary Dodd, Director

October 19,2004

Ken Beall

Beall, Gonnsen & Company

1551 Jennings Mill Parkway Building 500, Suite A

Bogart, Georgia 30622

Re: - Water and Sewer Capacity For Commercial and Residential Development Parks ide, Dooley Property.

Dear Ken

Subject to the existing County policies on sewer connection and capacity reservation, capacity is currently available for this project from the County Calls Creek WRF and water is available from the 12" main located on Highway 53. Availability of capacity does not guarantee connection; this project will require approval from the County Board of Commissioners.

Availability is also subject to obtaining a satisfactory technical review of the applicable water and/or sewer extension application package from the County engineer at the construction plan review stage.

Any cost associated with this project to connect to the existing County distribution or collection system would have been the responsibility of the developer. Engineering plans would be required to be submitted to the Oconee County Engineering Department for approval.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 706-769-2932.

Sincerely

(Signed) Gary T. Dodd                                                                                       (Signed) Michael Leonas

Gary Dodd                                                                               Mike Leonas, P.E.

Director                                                                                   County Engineer

Oconee County Utility Department                                         Oconee County Public Works

Pc: Melvin Davis, Chairman BOC

Matt Forshee, Senior Planner

Project File

P.O. BOX 88, WATKINSVILLE, GEORGIA 30677

          PH (706) 769-3960 – FAX (706) 769-3997

The Athens Banner-Herald

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/120604/new_20041206036.shtml

December 6, 2004

Jammed Oconee agenda focuses on developments

By Mike D'Avria

Oconee County commissioners will have their hands full Tuesday night, voting on a massive list of rezoning requests which, if all get approved, would authorize the construction of more than 1,100 new residential units and more than 900,000 square feet of commercial space…….. 

Parkside MPD  The commission will also consider a rezoning and a variance for Parkside, the 500-acre MPD off Georgia Highway 53 - which is planned to have 810 single-family houses, a 550,000-square-foot outdoor shopping mall and land donated for a school.  The 25 acres of land proposed for a school, and 1.5 acres to be set aside for a fire station or library, have recently been a source of controversy. .....