Many people have chosen to move to Forsyth County for many reasons.
No. 1 is probably its schools, low crime rate, reasonable property/school taxes, good roads, pretty friendly people and good selection of churches.
I have been a resident of Forsyth County since 1995 and because sewer access was not readily available, the minimum lot sizes were approximately a half acre, or 22,000 square feet, to accommodate septic leach fields. That meant the density was limited to 2 units per acre.
Over the years, as sewer access became available, low and behold, the county land-use plan started to evolve to allow denser zoning, so developers started requesting higher densities. Why not? Denser zoning meant greater return to the developer so as to mitigate those ever-escalating land acquisition costs.
Fast forward to 2012 — Plenty of sewer access and high density Res-3 and 4 applications are more numerous than the hot air coming out of this commission.
Now we have way too much traffic for existing roads to safely handle the higher concentration of vehicles. Schools are at capacity and have to resort to temporary classrooms.
Commissioners — the quality of life factor in Forsyth County is being severely compromised. Roads are clogged and people are stressed out.
When people become stressed, they naturally look to their elected officials to help them. But, as it was from the mid- to late ’90s through the bubble burst in 2007, you have learned nothing.
It’s time to live up to your oath to act as in your judgment will be most conductive to the welfare and best interests of the entire county.
To continually approve, or even consider any zoning density greater than Res-2, is both irresponsible and against the oath you took considering what you are allowing Forsyth County to turn into.
It is not your responsibility to create conditions that favor landowners so they can more easily sell property. If Forsyth County remains attractive to prospective home buyers, developers will continue to look for available land and will just have to negotiate the best deal they can with the landowner. What a concept.
Anthony Gulla
Cumming