BECKER: The rezone comes before the BOC with a negative finding from the North East Georgia Regional Development Center that "the development is not in the best interest of the Region and therefore the State."

AVOC

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October 6, 2008

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Does Oconee County really need more retail space at this time?

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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc

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Oconee has a lot of “Ghost Town” Subdivisions and empty retail space.   Do we really need more?

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Vacant Commercial Buildings

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Lee Becker does a good job of evaluating the Big Rezone being considered on Epps Bridge Parkway.   Oconee BOC To Take Up Epps Bridge Centre Again

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Our economy is more fragile than many of us realize.   Oconee “bought” into the fast growth policies of 2003-7.    We will be experiencing more of the “real costs” over the next couple of years.

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8-2-08 Housing Slump, Land Values, Tax Assessments, Water rates etc – Quite a Mix

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9-10-08 Housing Slump, Banks facing tough times, Oconee needs to slow spending

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10-2-08 Banking and Taxes - the Housing Slump is Local

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Lee Becker’s Blog

http://www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/

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October 5, 2008

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Oconee BOC To Take Up Epps Bridge Centre Again

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Dear Friends,

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The Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night is scheduled to make a crucial rezone decision regarding the proposed $ 76 million Epps Bridge Centre.

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The rezone comes before the BOC with a negative finding from the North East Georgia Regional Development Center that "the development is not in the best interest of the Region and therefore the State."

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Environmental and traffic concerns topped the list of problems NEGRDC has with the project.

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Even members of the Planning Commission who supported this rezone had some concerns. Tuesday is an opportunity for the BOC to address these.

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I've listed out the issues in a new posting on my blog, http://www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/.

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If you share any of these concerns, send a note to the members of the Board of Commissioners. You can draft a note from the comments on the blog, or you can simply tell the commissioners to read the blog, pointing out what concerns you.

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Here are their email addresses:

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Melvin Davis, (Chairman), mdavis@oconee.ga.us Margaret Hale, margarethale@oconee.ga.us and marghale@aol.com Chuck Horton, chorton@oconee.ga.us Jim Luke, jluke@oconee.ga.us Don Norris, dnorris@oconee.ga.us

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If at all possible, please attend the meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at the courthouse.

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Thanks

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Lee

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Lee Becker

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Blog: www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com