How do we maintain the good life in Coweta?
Editor’s note: In an editorial we asked readers the question: “How do we maintain the good life we enjoy in Coweta County with the prospects of continued population growth?” Coweta is one of the fastest growing counties in Georgia. Today the population is almost 130,000. It’s projected to be 250,000 by 2040.Here are readers thoughts about growth and development:
• I have lived in Newnan all my life. It is not the small town it use to be and never will be again. Atlanta is steadily spreading in all directions.
• Coweta is a fine example of a thriving, growing community in which most of us realize that continued growth will create jobs and lessen the tax burden on individuals.
• Get rid of the “Good ole boys” and things will be normal again.
• I could have moved to any county around Atlanta in 2006. I was going to commute to Atlanta every day anyway and wanted that drive not to be a big hassle.
My family looked at every county surrounding Atlanta. We chose Coweta County and with I-85 construction behind us the commute isn’t all that bad now.
Since my wife and I were born and raised in a small town in Southeast Georgia, Coweta County (Grantville) has been almost like home or even better.
We are really enjoying the best of both worlds. Let’s strive to maintain the small town feeling and not let this county become overcrowded with subdivisions and condos.
• Here’s an idea: When a developer wants to build a new car dealership right next to an abandoned car dealership, just say no.
Coweta has so many vacant businesses – just look around – yet new ones are approved while vacant buildings sit and rot.
• Senoia is trying to become another Peachtree City.
• I’ve lived in Gwinnett for the last year or so after having lived in Coweta for almost 40 years. Both areas have positives as well as negatives. One is not better than the other.
• Planning for the inevitable growth is so much better than trying to stop it. Whether one wishes to manage or control or stop growth, we need to accept that inevitability and get involved in community action to prepare for the future.
Coweta has been blessed, but we need to keep up the good work that’s been done by those who have come before.
• Now what we need are elected officials to control development as desired by folks who are only concerned about their pocketbooks.
• Continued growth is not “inevitable.” We need much tighter restrictions on commercial development ... just how many stores does Coweta need? And all that parking lot tar is adding to the heat island effect. With water in short supply why are home building permits issued just for the asking. The reasons many of us moved here are rapidly being replaced by too many people. Too many vehicles. Too many stores.
• Water is not in short supply. The water authority is drowning in water they have no customers for. You moved here, and now you have the “shut the door behind me” syndrome. What about individual property rights. I own it therefore I have the right to develop it to current regulations.
• The people who moved to Coweta County and made all this growth possible are dying out. Their children won’t be able to continue the growth with the type jobs we have available.
We need to just face the facts. Many of us were making more money 30 years ago than our kids can make now.
The next generation will not be able to afford the high taxes and the current cost of living.
• Coweta has a lot going for it, but we’re clearly at a crossroads. We need the right people in office to ensure smart growth.
I love living in Senoia where new infill development complements the historic downtown.
City government is following smart growth principles, and the developer’s goal is quality over quantity.
• Be real. Coweta needs to move forward. Life grows and changes. Stop this old timers game.
Laws needs to be enforced and people ideas need to grow. The world is a global front now and stop hindering people. Coweta is not a very diverse county.
• It’s not growth, it’s greed from those that like to color it growth. I know Mayberry was just a show on TV, but it showed honesty and integrity were two things that could not be bought.
Greed didn’t fit in with them. I remember the 1950s and how people enjoyed one another. You should have been there.
• Growth is controlled by politicians and developers. Politicians want a bigger fiefdom and developers want to make money. Neither have much regard for long-term quality of life in an area.
• If it gets as bad as Gwinnett, I’ll be looking to move. I rarely shop at all these stores they’ve got around here, and my favorite part about Ashley Park are the water features.
• Learn from the past. Control and manage growth. Assure infrastructure is sufficient. Do not allow any favors. Enforce every law -- parking, speeding, etc., which will stop crime before it starts.
On July 4 there were lots of illegal fireworks and a fire near our home, but enforcement was lax. Preserve green spaces for parks, etc. Make Coweta attractive to law abiding citizens.
• I grew up in Gwinnett, and I definitely don’t want Coweta to become like that. I’m sure it’s even worse in Gwinnett now. However, part of what makes a place rural versus suburban versus urban is population density.
If you project and encourage continued growth, then there’s no avoiding the suburban crawl. Really, it’s already happened here.
• Sad to say but there’s no such thing as a “big small town.” If the growth is inevitable, then the loss of our rural way of life is as well. It’s already deeply diminished.
As the people come, the big box stores and cookie cutter franchises follow until all that’s left is the paper thin shell of the community that once was. We already see the introduction of pornography and liquor into the fabric of our community.
All but the most foolish among us know what will invariably follow. We’ve seen it happen all around us, and it’s creeping steadily our way. Best to enjoy it while it lasts because it won’t last much longer.
• I remember a time when East Point was home to the wealthiest people in Atlanta and one of the nicest places to live. But nothing is guaranteed to last forever. Growth brings challenges, but it also brings rewards. In Coweta, we’ve been blessed with a caring citizenry who stay involved and competent elected leadership. I’d rather have our future than most any other in Georgia.
