Dear Editor,
Commissioners, thank you for scheduling the Oct. 22 work session to discuss Putnam County development, particularly considering the recently implemented six-month rezoning moratorium. This moratorium provides a critical, long-overdue window of opportunity to implement a sustainable, long-term plan for thoughtful county growth.
As we have seen, the current pace of development, especially around the Lake Oconee area, has become unsustainable, straining infrastructure and local services. The impending Rivian development will likely compound these challenges, making two short work sessions insufficient to produce meaningful, lasting solutions.
Commissioner McElhenney’s statement: “If we are going to do it, let’s do it right,” is precisely the mandate we must follow. To “do it right,” we must leverage this six-month moratorium by immediately calling upon the expertise and resources of the Middle Georgia Regional Commission (MGRC) to provide the professional planning and technical assistance necessary to avoid haphazard development.
I urge the BOC to prioritize and commit to the following concrete actions in collaboration with the MGRC:
Planning and Vision
• Thoroughly revise the Comprehensive Plan and establish a clear enforcement mechanism;
• Update all design standards to reflect the community’s vision and protect its character; and
• Implement Gateway Overlay and Lake Overlay districts to protect critical entrance corridors and natural resources.
Infrastructure and Funding
• Address the emergency need for infrastructure development in the Scott Road Triangle area; and
• Immediately implement impact fees to ensure new development pays its proportional share of the cost for necessary infrastructure and services.
Controlling Density and Use
• Enact limits on high-density housing to manage population growth pressures; and
• Establish clear limits or restrictions on the development of data centers, quarries, and large-scale solar farms in sensitive areas. Finally, the Putnam County Charter School System must be an essential partner in these discussions, ensuring they can adequately plan for and manage future enrollment growth. Our children are the most important part of our future, and their educational needs must be prioritized in all development planning.
The MGRC can effectively facilitate input from all stakeholders, including the City of Eatonton, citizens, the school system, planning and zoning officials, and local developers. Let us seize this moment to commit to the best version of Putnam County we can be.
“Let’s do it right!” Our collective future depends on the decisions made during this critical period.
Respectfully, Erin Olson Putnam County