Several people spoke out against a proposed rezoning request for a new subdivision in Walthourville during the April 26 City Council meeting.
The proposed new development will sit along Highway 84 and Hardman Road, with the entrance, for now, on Airport Road and Hardman Road. The development covers 67.66 acres within the city and also within sections of Long County. Once compl e ted, there will be 207 lots within the city limits, with another 237 lots in Long County, according to Lori Parks, Zoning Administrator for the Liberty County Consolidated Planning Commission.
The estimated buildout would be $75 million, and the estimated tax revenue for the city is roughly $ 975,000. Deve lop er Claude Dryden is requesting the area be rezoned from I-1 (industrial) to PUD (planned unit development). The LCPC recommended approval, with the special condition that a second entrance be provided along Highway 84.
But until the second entrance is done, the new development will have only one way in, through Hardman Road.
Engineer Trent Long said they plan to construct the new entrance on Highway 84 to coincide with the construction of the Hinesville bypass. He said the water and sewer lines of the city will be extended to serve the new development, and that the development is designed so that none of the newly constructed homes are on sites within both Walthourville and Long County at the same time. Families who buy the homes that are in Long County’s district will have their kids attend Long County schools, and those in the city limits would attend schools in Liberty’s district.
Lloyd Busby opposed the rezoning request, saying the current roads and infrastructures are not being maintained properly, and new growth will only make things worse.
“Sometimes buses can’t go down these roads because they are so bad,” he said. “Not just the subdivisions, but Dorsey Road as well.”
Busby said there would be an increase in both traffic and collisions within the city limits. He also fears water run-off will affect city residents.
Liberty County educator Becky Busby also opposed the rezoning, saying it would adversely affect the respective school systems. She invited the Mayor and Council to “come to my classroom, come to my school, and try and squeeze into a classroom that already has 30–32 kids in there.” She said no one from the LCPC or engineering firm sought input from the Liberty County School System, the Board of Education or the schools that serve the children within the city limits. She said if each house built within the city limits has one child, it would be far beyond her classroom’s capacity at Frank Long Elementary, where she teaches.
She said she is also concerned about the impact more homes will have on the already strained and short-staffed emergency services, first responders and law enforcement personnel. She added that the city doesn’t have anyone overseeing the water department, and the water system is already strained, so adding an additional 200 homes to the water system is a setup for failure.
Melinda Meyers, owner of Stratosphere Trampoline Space, located off Hardman Road and Airport Road, said she is concerned that the development would increase traffic accidents in the area.
“At least once a week, there is an accident at Airport Road and Highway 84 or Airport Road and Shaw Road and Hardman Road, where people cannot cross without wrecking their vehicles,” she said. “And it prevents my members to be able to arrive to class on time. One day a week may not be that big of a deal, but if we are talking about 400 additional families coming through this that is already a challenge for people who have lived here for a while, I can’t imagine it is going to get much better. It is only going to get worse.”
She was also concerned that construction equipment, supplies and trucks would block traffic to her business, since their only entry at the moment is through Hardman Road.
Long said that should the rezoning petition pass, they would work to pull the necessary designs and permits to start work on the secondary entrance along Highway 84 to avoid having all traffic enter via Hardman Road. He also said the development would have retention ponds to make sure water run-off doesn’t cause any flooding.
Luke Dryden said he grew up in the area where the proposed project is being developed. He said by requesting it be zoned PUD, they are required to set up a Homeowners Association, and that will help maintain the aesthetics and upkeep of the new subdivision.
“It will enforce the covenants of the neighborhood so it stays looking good,” he said.
City attorney Luke Moses said he received a document that confirms that the city has the water capacity for the proposed homes and said the city contracts with Woodrow Sapp to help address water and sewer needs. Moses said the new development will benefit the city with more growth revenue. He said he has a huge respect and admiration for educators, but the growth will also create more revenue to build bigger schools.
Councilman Charlie Anderson said he isn’t against progress but noted that the city does have current water issues that have yet to be addressed. Councilwoman Luciria Lovette agreed about the water issues and also drain issues after heavy rains.
“How are we going to address that and add additional homes in that area?” she asked.
Moses said the only way the city is going to get what they need is through housing growth.
Councilwoman Bridgette Kelly also expressed concerns about the water, saying the city was having issues with water pressure and water odors. The Council voted to wait until they have answers to these questions before voting on the rezoning.