The Douglas County Sentinel (requires registration) is reporting today that the lousy housing market in Douglas County is hurting the local economy. With a foreclosure rate of “3.59 percent, which is one in every 27 households,” Douglas County is the worst in the whole West Georgia Region. Beneficiaries of new residential development are taking their toll due to the drought as well. Yet the article never explains why the local economy is hurting and in which areas.

However the amount of jobs are up which is relative to all the new distribution centers that have opened up in the last year, primarily along Riverside Parkway.

The Douglas County Sentinel (requires registration) is reporting today that the WSA will be introducing a new three tier billing system for water usage. The tier system is part of the recommendations made by the 2003 Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District to help conserve water. Below is an example of the new price change.

“The December billing changes will set up three different rate tiers, based on customer usage. For a typical 5/8-inch residential connection, a customer will pay $3.30 per 1,000 gallons for the first 6,000 gallons; between 6,001 and 9,000 gallons, $4.13; and over 9,000 gallons, $6.60.

Should this three-tiered billing structure, plus the reductions by the top 200 users, fail to reach the 10 percent reduction target for five consecutive days, the resolution calls for a fourth billing tier to be added. This would result in the customer paying $7.60 per 1,000 gallons for consumption over 12,000 gallons.”

In addition to the tier billing system, the WSA will be contacting the top 200 consumers of water and will be asking them to voluntarily cut usage down by 10 percent.

CITY OF DOUGLASVILLE
CITY COUNCIL

Legislative Work Session

November 1, 2007
7:30 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order

2. Invocation

3. Pledge of Allegiance

4. Public Safety Committee/Dennis McLain
a. Request for a change in the agent outlet manager for the alcohol beverage license for F & S Grocery for the retail package sale of wine and malt beverage at 8244 Dallas Highway (Georgia Highway 92). Application by Ruthie Mae Few.

b. Authorize the Mayor to sign a service contract with LINK2Spanish, LLC, for court interpreter services for the Douglasville Municipal Court.

c. Authorize the closing of Church Street between Price Avenue and Bowden Street on Saturday, December 1, 2007, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for the seventh annual Old Fashioned Holidays event in Downtown Douglasville.

5. Community & Economic Development Committee/John Schildroth
a. Adopt a resolution concerning Douglasville’s seventh annual Old Fashioned Holidays event in the Downtown Historic District on Saturday, December 1, 2007, starting at 4:00 p.m.

6. Planning & Zoning Committee/Michael Carter

Tabled from October 1, 2007:
a. Request for a change in zoning from R-2 (Single Family Detached Residential District) to CG (General Commercial District) certain tracts through which the planned Bright Star Road Connector will pass on approximately 6.8 acres. Application by the City of Douglasville.

New Business:
b. Authorize the Mayor to sign an Amendment to Development Agreement with CP Douglas Place Phase I, LLP, providing for abandonment of un-needed existing right of way to the adjacent landowner/developer, for the developer’s use of land over City roadside drainage structures for parking and for the developer to pipe stormwater from City roadside drainage structures to on-site detention facilities at the developer’s expense.

c. Request for a variance from the City’s Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance, Section 42-44(b) Automatic Sprinkler System requirements for all day care facilities, in order to allow relief from such requirements for Kids With A Vision Academy at 6304 Fairburn Road. Application by Sharon Stallings.

d. Request approval of a final plat for Tributary at New Manchester, Village Center Phase I at 1800 Riverside Parkway. Application by Douglasville Development, LLC.

e. Request approval of a revised final plat for Tributary at New Manchester, Parcel D, Section 1 at 1800 Riverside Parkway. Application by Douglasville Development, LLC.

f. Request approval of a revised final plat for Tributary at New Manchester, Parcel R, Phase 2 at 1800 Riverside Parkway. Application by Douglasville Development, LLC.

g. Request for variances from the City’s Zoning Code in order to reduce the minimum dwelling size from the required 1,800 square feet down to 1,392 square feet and to reduce the side yard setback on the east property line from the required 15 linear feet down to 5 linear feet in an R-2 (Single Family Detached Residential District) on approximately .160-acre on Upshaw Mill Road. Application by Habitat for Humanity Douglas County.

h. Authorize an extension of time through April 1, 2008, for installation of sod and all other plants required by the City’s Development Ordinance, due to drought conditions in the City of Douglasville.

7. Parks & Recreation Committee/Roy Mims
a. Authorize the Mayor to sign an agreement for renovation work on Field 1, Field 2, and Chandler Field in Hunter Park, with said work to be paid from the Hunter Park line item in the Parks and Recreation component of the City’s SPLOST program.

8. Finance Committee/Henry Mitchell III

9. Information Technology Committee/Henry Mitchell III
a. Authorize the Mayor to sign a Domain Name Registration Agreement with dotgov.gov for registration of the City of Douglasville’s new .gov locality domain name.

10. Maintenance & Sanitation Committee/Charles Banks
a. Adopt a resolution concerning an event to be held in O’Neal Plaza on Thursday, November 15, to encourage recycling in the City of Douglasville.

11. Transportation Committee/Michael Carter
a. Authorize the Mayor to sign Agreements to Purchase Real Estate and all necessary documents for closings on parcel 03 for the intersection improvement project on Chapel Hill Road at Douglas Boulevard and Timberidge Drive.

b. Authorize the Mayor to sign an amendment to the City’s agreement with Carter & Burgess, Inc., for design services on the intersection improvement project on Chapel Hill Road and Stewart Mill Road to provide for traffic signal connectivity on Chapel Hill Road.

12. Personnel & Organization Committee/Roy Mims

13. Ordinances & Intergovernmental Committee/Callye B. Holmes

14. Other Business

15. City Attorney/Joel Dodson

16. Chief Assistant City Attorney/Suzan Littlefield

17. City Manager/Bill Osborne

18. Comments from Citizens and Delegates

PLANNING & ZONING BOARD
AND
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MEETING AGENDA

November 6, 2007

APPROVAL of MINUTES
October 2, 2007

AGENDA

Z2007-50 | Tab [1]
Douglas County BOC – Request for a rezoning (administrative) from R-LD to C-H to bring the property into conformance with the Future Land Use Map and the historic use of the property at the property located at 4281 Highway 78: Land Lot(s) 653, District 18, Section 2, Parcel(s) 4. Lot size: 0.445 acres.

TABLED AT 10/02/2007 P&Z MEETING

Z2007-51 | Tab [2]
MetroGroup Development II, LLC – Request for a rezoning from R-LD to C-G for a retail center (to include a pharmacy, bank and restaurant) at the property located at Highway 92 & Highway 166: Land Lot(s) 135, District 1, Section 5, Parcel(s) 10. Lot size: 5.45 acres.

Z2007-53 / M2007-08 | Tab [3]
Ty James, DMD – Request for an amendment to the FLUM from Suburban Living to Neighborhood Village Center and a rezoning from R-LD to OI-L for a dental office at the property located at 3031 Chapel Hill Road and 3050 Stone Oak Drive: Land Lot(s) 47, District 1, Section 5, Parcel(s) 110 & 112. Lot size: 1.41 acres.

S2007-54 | Tab [4]
The Church at Chapel Hill – A request for a Special Use Permit to allow church related classes and septic tank drain field at the property located at Chapel Hill Road: Land Lot(s) 69, District 1, Section 5, Parcel(s) 1. Lot size: 3.89 acres.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Consider the following amendments to the Unified Development Code:
Article 2, Table 2.4 – Principal Uses
Article 3, Section 331 (3) (b) – Home Office
Article 12, Section 1209 (a) (2) d 2 – Public Information & Hearings - Notice

ADJOURN

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The Douglas County Sentinel (requires registration) is reporting today about water rates from the WSA are likely to rise in December. Part of the increases comes from a decrease in revenues, i.e. new tap connections, and an increase in expenditures from purchasing water from Cobb County. According to the article, at least 60% of Douglas County’s water now comes from Cobb.

Last week there were indications that rates were going to change. Also WSB reported yesterday during their broadcast that if Cobb County decreased their water output to Douglas, local residents here would expect to see a 45 day supply.

Possibly the most recognized creek throughout all of Douglas County, Tanyard Branch ripples down the rocky shoals near Dorsett Shoals Road as cars roll by on the sharp turn over the bridge. The creek begins its journey between Central Church and Yeager Road, descending into a valley of jutting rock and steep terrain. Cool waters carve southerly before reaching Little Bear Creek.

Although Tanyard Branch serves as a tributary for the Bear Creek Reservoir, it serves little purpose in the replenishment of drinking water. Powered by natural springs and smaller tributaries of its own, the creek is usually plentiful in flow until the affects of the drought occurred.

This post represents a series of pictures taken over the course of almost two years at Tanyard Branch, from January 2005 to October 2007. The lack of water is startling to say the least and an image unwanted. What used to be a pleasant site while driving is but a rocky outcropping with trickles of water.

Press Release - Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition

Lithia Springs, GA: The Douglas County Board of Commissioners (BOC) should declare a moratorium on new home permits to help prevent a housing market crash and a decline in home values, according to James Bell, director of the Douglas County Taxpayers Coalition (DCTC).

In a letter to the BOC, Bell explained his concerns about the over-development of the county and the impact it’s having on infrastructure. He points to the fact that roads, schools and jails are crowded and the drinking water reservoirs are going dry.

Bell claims the rapid over-development of Douglas County and the collapses of the housing market have caused a glut of new homes.

“If new home are not selling, it means existing home are not selling either. Existing home owners are forced to sale at well below fair market values. The result is less revenue from property taxes in the future”, Bell explained.

DCTC is concerned that declining home market values will cause a ripple effect and create shortfalls in property tax revenue if the county doesn’t cut the budget and control spending. This could result in a large millage rate increase to cover the shortfalls.

DCTC is recommending the Board of Commissioners take the following actions:
* Declare a temporary moratorium on new home construction permits (one year)
* Restrictions on new water hook-up permits
* Require department heads to cut the 2008 budget by a minimum of 5 percent
* Pledge a “no tax increase” in 2008

“I believe, with strong leadership, we can find ways to cut our budget, protect property values and ensure our drinking water doesn’t run dry”, Bell wrote.

The Douglas County Sentinel (requires registration) is reporting today that filing for absentee ballots for the cities of Douglasville and Villa Rica begin tomorrow. Voters living in those municipalities can stop by the Voters Registration Office at the Douglas County Courthouse, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., excluding Veterans Day. Positions of races are below.

City of Douglasville
Ward 4
Ward 5 Post 1
Ward 5 Post 2
Mayor

City of Villa Rica
Mayor

The Douglas County Sentinel (requires registration) is reporting today that District 3 Commissioner Mike Mulcare will be hosting a “community meeting” concerning those citizens who were impacted by the noise levels produced by the Echo Project Art and Music Festival a few weeks ago in South Fulton. The meeting is at the Church of Chapel Hill, 7 p.m.

The Douglas County Sentinel (registration required) is reporting today that Douglas County will be having for “the proposed Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) study of Georgia Highway 92 (Fairburn Road) from Interstate 20 east to Lake Monroe Road.” Citizens interested in this new area of growth can attend the meeting at the 6 p.m. in Citizen’s Hall at the Douglas County Courthouse.

Early this year Losing Georgia published an article about the proposed LCI study and Highway 92 corridor after some citizen e-mails. Highway 92 is expected to be the next big boom of development for the county.