Here's something to look over the weekend if you're interested about the development in Douglas County. The past two days I've been working on a new statistics page, which you can view here, that highlights a different perspective on development using numbers. I do not have many numbers to deal with for the moment, but the information that I can provide is worthy at best. Did you know that over 6,200 acres are being used for development? Well you do now.

Also stay connected and updated with the Losing Georgia project using Live Bookmarks! 

Just so happens I picked up both the Douglas County Sentinel and Douglas Neighbor newspapers to see how things are going in the County. To say the least, not much information was given on two stories that were of interest. Quite frankly it wasn't really informative.

The Sentinel briefly mentioned about the Anneewakee Creek Greenway Project meeting that was held last week, though no one from the Sentinel was actually at the meeting. All the paper say was that BCA was to present information to the City about what citizens want from the project. There was no mention of who attended, how the project came about, why the city is pursuing the project and more.

More after the jump…

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The new Development Live View is now available for viewing using Google Maps. Due the large file size from the Interactive Tour, the Live View has been broken down into districts to minimize errors. Only developments will be able to be viewed through the Live View. If you want to view more than what is available, then head over to the Interactive Tour page to find out what you are missing.

Yesterday Google announced on their blog that Google Maps will now be able to view KML files. KML is essentially XML, except this is strictly for Google Earth. Days before I signed up for a Google Maps API which I won't need to use anymore. Above you can see a screenshot of what the test map looks like. I'm having to deal with a lot of errors from the Google Earth conversion so it will be awhile for me to sort out all the points correctly. Eventually the Live Map will be the same as the Interactive Tour, including the icons.

Also remember that you can stay updated using the RSS feed. Firefox users can appreciate this if they haven't used this option. I know that Internet Explorers users are seeing some layout errors and I'm trying to figure them out. I've being doing web design about five years to learn one thing: don't use Internet Explorer. I'll try to come up with a hack to fix some of the errors for IE users, but all other browsers see the site fine. 

The Losing Georgia: Interactive Tour has been updated with 1 new development with a photo. Also I moved some of the placemarks to fit the new satellite imagery. You can download the kmz file or head over to the overview page if you are unfamiliar with the Interactive Tour. Below is a list of additions and updates which also reflects the database:

New Developments

1. Dog River Reserve

Added Photos

1. Dog River Reserve

The satellite imagery in Google Earth has been quietly updated near metro Atlanta including parts of District 4 in Douglas County. The imagery is of a higher resolution then the previous imagery which shows in greater detail how much the landscape is really changing. More importantly the new imagery covers all of Georgia Highway 5. This update helps pinpointing development locations with ease without having to guess with poor imagery.

With the new imagery update comes an idea that I've been collaborating on for a few days. I know that not all people will want to install Google Earth so I'm working on providing two more ways to view the developments visual. 

1. Have a satellite image for every development on the development list
2. Use the Google Maps API to provide a live look at developments

The second point will be harder to deal with as I'm just earning how to use the API. As I said before a Statistics page, FAQ, Homebuilders list and more is in the works. Its just a matter of time, money, and coding to have all these informative options available.

Before you dive into this post I just want to remind you that this particular piece is long, 4 pages long, with details. Many details were not presented at the meeting in which I highlight because to understand this project one has to go all the way back to 1989. Alright, here's what you've been waiting for…

I attended the meeting about the Anneewakee Creek Greenway Project to see what this proposed development was about and it certainly was worth going to. The meeting was more of a presentation by the City of Douglasville and their consultants, Bron Cleveland Associates (BCA), about what could be done to an area along Anneewakee Creek between two locations: Rose Avenue to Interstate 20 and Interstate 20 to Stewarts Mill Road.

Let me stress that this meeting was only to present a case study and not to propose the greenway project. What the consultants were wanting was more feedback from the community and they certainly had it coming.

The meeting started off with a video presentation from BCA about what a greenway was in general. The Silver Comet Trail was the first example as to what comes along with a greenway like places of recreation, walking/biking trails, various path elements (boarded, gravel, natural), bridges, signage, outdoor classrooms and more.

The video than segued to three different greenway projects that BCA dealt with in the past that were located in Georgia. In the City of Jesup the McMillan Creek corridor, or what the video called a drainage ditch, was overhauled to clean up the creek, prevent further pollution and provide walking/equestrian trails.

More after the jump…

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The Losing Georgia Project makes headway on delivering valuable information to the community for understanding the urban sprawl epidemic and the loss of history and natural landscape. I'm only one person between many that is doing a small part to help the community understand what is going on in Douglas County. Last night I attended the community meeting about the proposed Greenway Project and I assure you a full report will be done sometime today or tomorrow. The report will cover the meeting as well as preceding factors that let up to the City to decide on this Greenway Project.

Also I am considering of creating a new statistics page that will display the development numbers (shown on the County Assessment), top 5 active developers, top 5 active homebuilders, total acreage used for development, loss of oxygen from greenspace and other figures. Making this information presentable and live will be a difficult task to complete. I'm trying to iron out the details for the moment. Remember, I'm just one guy working on this project so updates will tend to be slow at times.

Residents of Arbor Station are holding a public meeting of their own tomorrow at 7pm in downtown Douglasville at the Conference Center. The meeting is to discuss a proposed greenway project which will provide walking/biking trails from Rose Avenue, across Interstate 20 to Arbor Station. The proposed trail is 2.5 miles long which is to produce more foot traffic to Arbor Place Mall, though the concern here is the trail cutting residents' backyards and the possible increase of crime and pollution to Anneewakee Creek.

Below is public community notice:

This is not a Public Notice, this is from your Creekwood neighbors.

This Tuesday • June 6, 2006 • 7:00 p.m.

The public meeting Tuesday night may decide the fate of your backyard!

Arbor Station homeowners on Anneewakee (Windwood) Creek
The City of Douglasville and Bron, Cleveland Associates, Inc. are proposing
a greenway project that will run from south of Rose Avenue, through West Pines Golf Course, across I-20
through Arbor Place Mall, through Arbor Station and south to Stewart Mill Road.

The good part of the plan:

1. Restoration of the eroded creek bed of Anneewakee Creek (AKA Windwood Creek) and its tributary creeks.
2. Clean-up creek bank litter and fallen trees and preventative erosion control measures.
3. Maintaining the creek corridor as a sanctuary for the rapidly dwindling wildlife and bird population.

The bad part of the plan:

Proposed pathway running the 2.5 mile length of the greenway right through Arbor Station— complete with parking lots for cars in at least one location on the proposed greenway.

1. If your lot extends to the creek, the pathway will eat up part of your yard.

1. If your lot borders the creek banks, the pathway will bring the general public trouping past your
   home and backyard compromising your privacy and personal security.
2. Since the path will have access from Stewart Mill Road and Arbor Place Mall:
   Foot traffic, bikes, skateboards, ATV, and dirt bike traffic could be substantial.
3. Gangs of teenagers will have another place to hang-out besides the mall and a convenient
   footpath to get there.
4. A 2.5 mile path is a long stretch to police and a great wooded stretch to lurk if you are up to no good. It certainly gives ANYONE on the pathway easy access to secluded back yards and houses.

If the pathway goes through Arbor Station, the probable scenario is:

1. Wildlife will leave.
2. Privacy will disappear.
3. Traffic, litter and noise will increase. Crime will rise, as will the threat of fire.
4. The pathway will probably increase the value of the land planned for development after the path is built and lower the value of houses in Arbor Station.

The city and Bron Cleveland Associates, Inc. say the pathway is just an option, but their presentation and video placed heavy emphasis on the pathway portion of the greenway project. The current & future fund sources have been identified. Almost no one from Arbor Station was at the first meeting about the greenway project. The city has a plan which may not be in your best interest.

Come to the meeting and let them know what you want…and what you don’t want.

It’s your backyard! The time commitment is minimal to help PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY.

With grave concern, Donnie Abbott & Victoria Moore-Abbott, Creekwood Jo Aldridge, Creekwood Bill Foster, Creekwood

Public Meeting on the Greenway Project: Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.
Douglasville Downtown Conference Center

6701 Church Street, Douglasville, Georgia http://www.ci.douglasville.ga.us/dgls-information.shtml or call: 678.715.6081

I'd like to thank Victoria Moore-Abbott for being this information to my attention. Anyone near the affected area should attend this meeting as personal property is in jeopardy. The City of Douglasville is proposing a development that is not in the favor of residents. This is where you live, your voice should be heard instead of being ignored. You have a choice, what will you choose?

The Losing Georgia: Interactive Tour has been updated with 4 new developments, 12 new photos and an overlay for Brookmont subdivision. You can download the kmz file or head over to the overview page if you are unfamiliar with the Interactive Tour. Below is a list of additions and updates which also reflects the database:

New Developments

1. Windermere subdivision
2. Unknown Post Road subdivision
3. McDonald's - Mirror Lake
4. Mirror Lake Elementary Expansion

Added Photos

1. Windermere subdivision
2. Unknown Post Road subdivision
3. McDonald's - Mirror Lake
4. Mirror Lake Elementary Expansion
5. Bear Creek Phase II
6. Bear Creek unused golf course
7. Chestatee Farms
8. Deer Creek
9. Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church PCA
10. Dog River - Georgia Highway 166 Bridge
11. Mirror Lake Expansion
12. Ashley Place

Overlay

1. Brookmont Site Plan