Commissioners should do more to improve quality of development

Editor:

I have lived in Columbia County for almost 20 years and I am concerned about some of the developments that have been built. I see new mid- to high-end neighborhoods built without sidewalks, underground utilities, county water and sewer.

Parks and school sites should also be configured into neighborhood construction. I keep seeing new shopping strips pop up without intelligent planning/zoning. Trees and landscaping are configured minimally into these pictures which is a real mistake. All of our streets should be tree-lined.

Columbia County is still relatively at its dawn in development. Already Washington Road in Evans (as well as the main street in Grovetown, etc) is beginning to look like its sister in Augusta, with every shopping center visible from the roadway instead of being pushed back further and screened by tree-lined entrances.

It would make sense for our commissioners to go visit other places to bring back great ideas in planning and developing our county.

Communities such as Alpharetta near Atlanta have done a great job with planning their commercial developments. Alpharetta has substantial green tree-lined medians between multi-lane streets, not ugly concrete. Their shopping centers are pushed back from the main roads and are screened with trees and shrubs. Another example is to look at what North Augusta has done in the past several years. ...

County commissioners are in a political position to influence the direction our county grows. I have a strong vision for Columbia County - and it is more than it is at this moment. They, too, must develop a strong vision for Columbia County. They must not allow themselves to become short-sighted. Because they are in these positions, they must be even more vigilant against corruption...

I like to walk through houses under construction and do so often. It is easy to see all the flaws and poor construction occurring. Floors warped, shoddy roofing jobs - that some poor, unsuspecting homeowner will end up stuck with. These are things that the "fine builders" of Columbia County are allowing. Our consumers are putting their trust into these people who are ultimately controlled by the guidelines commissioners set and allow our inspectors to disapprove/approve. ...

People will pay more for quality and aesthetics - they must be given the chance. Property values will rise in response. Investors and businesses will flock - much faster than they are now - if commissioners take a stand on quality and demand it.

Quality and thought toward usage will translate into tax dollars. ...

W.C. Paschal

Martinez