Grow Green scorecards
I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of Athens-Clarke County mayoral candidate Charlie Maddox's responses to the annual scorecard from Athens Grow Green Coalition, and thought I'd share a few of his responses since there has been many - me included - calling for him to flesh out some of his positions:
What do you think Athens-Clarke County’s growth issues will be in the next 10 years?
Athens has yet to balance progress with preservation. Our environment and our culture are our most precious resources, and we must fight to preserve both. Smart growth is the answer; however, smart growth has become a guise for many with a no growth agenda. Our citizens deserve the opportunities for employment and natural surroundings. One should never be chosen at the exclusion of the other.
Additionally, our city has failed to actively promote our natural resources as enticement for the relocation of citizens and businesses to our area. Such marketing could help our city gain resources while ensuring an ongoing commitment to our environment.
Not a bad answer. These types of surveys are always difficult for candidates to answer because you don't want to be too specific, but you also want to give more in-depth glimpse to what you want to do. He appeared to handle this one right and, truth be told, is actually dead-on. This city has struggled for a long time under many different Mayor and Commissions to balance the need for controlling sprawl and preserving our history with the necessity to see our community, and its economy, grow.
He doesn't offer much of an idea of how to actually do that - not saying he lacks one - and focuses on selling the city as is.
What will you do to increase the supply of accessible affordable housing?
As a city, we have gained a reputation as a difficult and undesirable place for development, and because of this, talented developers who could help create responsible and affordable housing are bypassing Athens.
Additionally, our own government entities are repeatedly blocked and frustrated by the layering of hindrance in our planning and permitting process.
We should set reasonable goals and rules for our citizens’ housing needs and pursue those goals outright. If efforts are united for needed and responsible development as they have been for other efforts, we will begin the process of getting high quality housing for all Athenians.
Listen, I know this is a difficult issue, and Lord knows I don't have all the answers (or even a modicum of them), but I was particularly disappointed by this answer ... especially since Maddox works with the Athens Housing Authority. This was a specific question and it called for a more specific answer, not generalities.
Instead, he alluded to what he felt the problem was - the community scaring off developers - and then danced around the issue by saying we should set 'reasonable goals and rules' to meet housing needs. Fair enough, though I disagree with the assertation that Athens-Clarke County has scared off developers, particularly in light of the boom along Mitchell Bridge Road and down Timothy Road or, well, anywhere on the eastside.
Affordable housing, more than often, isn't pursued by developers because they want to bring home a solid return and selling a house for $110,000 versus an overpriced condo for $305,000 is a no-brainer from a business sense.
There are things developers can do and there are things the government can do (mixed-use developments come to mind, property tax freezes are another, utilizing a portion of the Navy School's land is yet another), and it's important we don't throw tons of blame around and skirt the tough questions our community faces.
What do you think Athens-Clarke County’s growth issues will be in the next 10 years?
Athens has yet to balance progress with preservation. Our environment and our culture are our most precious resources, and we must fight to preserve both. Smart growth is the answer; however, smart growth has become a guise for many with a no growth agenda. Our citizens deserve the opportunities for employment and natural surroundings. One should never be chosen at the exclusion of the other.
Additionally, our city has failed to actively promote our natural resources as enticement for the relocation of citizens and businesses to our area. Such marketing could help our city gain resources while ensuring an ongoing commitment to our environment.
Not a bad answer. These types of surveys are always difficult for candidates to answer because you don't want to be too specific, but you also want to give more in-depth glimpse to what you want to do. He appeared to handle this one right and, truth be told, is actually dead-on. This city has struggled for a long time under many different Mayor and Commissions to balance the need for controlling sprawl and preserving our history with the necessity to see our community, and its economy, grow.
He doesn't offer much of an idea of how to actually do that - not saying he lacks one - and focuses on selling the city as is.
What will you do to increase the supply of accessible affordable housing?
As a city, we have gained a reputation as a difficult and undesirable place for development, and because of this, talented developers who could help create responsible and affordable housing are bypassing Athens.
Additionally, our own government entities are repeatedly blocked and frustrated by the layering of hindrance in our planning and permitting process.
We should set reasonable goals and rules for our citizens’ housing needs and pursue those goals outright. If efforts are united for needed and responsible development as they have been for other efforts, we will begin the process of getting high quality housing for all Athenians.
Listen, I know this is a difficult issue, and Lord knows I don't have all the answers (or even a modicum of them), but I was particularly disappointed by this answer ... especially since Maddox works with the Athens Housing Authority. This was a specific question and it called for a more specific answer, not generalities.
Instead, he alluded to what he felt the problem was - the community scaring off developers - and then danced around the issue by saying we should set 'reasonable goals and rules' to meet housing needs. Fair enough, though I disagree with the assertation that Athens-Clarke County has scared off developers, particularly in light of the boom along Mitchell Bridge Road and down Timothy Road or, well, anywhere on the eastside.
Affordable housing, more than often, isn't pursued by developers because they want to bring home a solid return and selling a house for $110,000 versus an overpriced condo for $305,000 is a no-brainer from a business sense.
There are things developers can do and there are things the government can do (mixed-use developments come to mind, property tax freezes are another, utilizing a portion of the Navy School's land is yet another), and it's important we don't throw tons of blame around and skirt the tough questions our community faces.
posted by Jmac at 7:23 AM
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