A Note from Mike

Hello, Everyone:

As we approach the end of 2005, I am about to complete my first year as Gwinnett County Commissioner. It has certainly been a learning experience with three new commissioners and a new county administrator, all trying to get a handle on the issues affecting the county. But, by and large, I think we stood up to the job, and with projects such as Operation Fixing Broken Windows, the addition of new parkland, increasing the resources available to our public safety personnel, and modifying the zoning regulations for conservation subdivisions, Gwinnett is a better place at the end of the year than it was at the beginning.

During the past few months, the Commission approved changes to the way the county purchases property in order to make government more open to citizens. We also began broadcasting Commission meetings live, both on TV Gwinnett and over the Internet. The commission also reduced underused local transit service, both to add additional express service to downtown Atlanta, and save the county money. The county increased security at the Justice and Administration center, and established an official Homeland Security Office.

As we finish 2005, we are well into planning for 2006. I recently attended the annual Commissioner's retreat, where we heard about the issues facing county staff, and got our first look at the proposed 2006 budget, which will be voted on in January. This meeting was also an opportunity for the Commission to set priorities for the upcoming year.

Finally, I would like to thank the citizens who took time out this year to provide their input into the way the county is run. Whether it was as a volunteer appointee to one of the county's advisory boards, attending one of my Meetings with Mike sessions, or just by sending me an email or calling about your concerns, I appreciate your comments and feedback, and want to let you know that they help a lot in deciding what action to take on the commission. I am looking forward to continuing this dialog in 2006. You are welcome to visit with me in my office when I hold "Meetings with Mike," (see the schedule below), or contact me by email at mike.beaudreau@gwinnettcounty.com.
I hope to hear from you soon.

Merry Christmas to all, and may you and your family have a wonderful holiday season.

Mike Beaudreau

County Commission Votes 3-2 to Permit High Rises

On December 6th, the County Commission decided to approve a new zoning for high rise buildings in limited areas of Gwinnett County. The new regulations allow buildings of up to 25 stories along I-85 near Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Pleasant Hill Road, and Sugarloaf Parkway, near the Mall of Georgia, and on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard south of Holcomb Bridge Road. Commissioners Beaudreau and Green voted against the new regulations.

Mike indicated that there were several reasons he voted against the new zoning rules. "First of all, I'm not sure that Gwinnett is ready for high rise residential projects", he commented. "I agree that the Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Gwinnett Place areas need redevelopment, but we may be putting the cart before the horse by allowing high rises".

Mike is also concerned about the lack of requirements imposed on new projects under the new zoning classification. "While it's true that we can impose restrictions on any project once it comes before the Commission, it also means that every high rise application will need to be negotiated with the developer individually. I would have preferred to have had some standards that projects would have to meet prior to a rezoning application."

He also said that the new regulations will not permit all-commercial developments. The Commission is very concerned about the increasingly residential share of the county's tax base. One of the goals for 2006 is to investigate ways of encouraging new businesses to relocate or expand in Gwinnett. "By forcing all high-rise developments to be mixed-use, the county could be limiting its ability to attract new companies to the county", he noted.

Stormwater Fee Approved

The County Commission recently voted 4-1 to create a new stormwater fee that will go into effect with the 2006 property tax bills. Commissioner Beaudreau was the only one to vote against the fee. The amount that property owners will pay is based on the square feet of impermeable surface, such as roofs and driveways, on the property.

Proceeds from the fee will go towards the repair and maintenance of stormwater runoff facilities, including retention ponds and drains. All property owners, including non-profit organizations, the School Board, and the county itself will be required to pay the fee.

"I am not happy with the way that the new stormwater fee was implemented", commented Commissioner Beaudreau. "While the county needs to have funds to maintain our infrastructure, I believe that the Commission could have come up with a more equitable way to raise the money."

"I would like to have explored the option of charging the fee based on the percentage of a property's hard surfaces, rather than just on gross square footage", Mike continued. "As the measure stands now, homeowners with large lots that can absorb runoff naturally can end up paying the same fee as property owners on smaller lots with no ability to absorb rainwater. I would also like to explore options for imposing stricter material requirements when drains and retention ponds are built, so that they will not need to be maintained and repaired as frequently".

You can learn more about the new stormwater utility fee by reading the Stormwater FAQ (requires Adobe reader).

Commission to Explore Impact Fees

At its recent planning retreat, Gwinnett commissioners decided to study the possibility of imposing impact fees on new development. As a result, a study committee is expected to be formed shortly after the first of the year. Impact fees would be assessed on new residential and commercial development, and would go towards the cost of building roads, sewers, and other infrastructure that the development would require. They could not be used to pay for schools unless current law is changed by the state legislature.

Commissioner Beaudreau noted, "Even back when I was campaigning for my commission seat, I wanted to investigate the possibility of using impact fees as a way of paying for the additional costs to the county that new development brings. However, they must be put in place properly in order to work effectively and meet legal requirements. I hope that the study committee can make some reasonable proposals that the Commission will be able to take action on."

Meetings with Mike Winter Schedule

If you have a have a question about or an issue with the county or its government, you are welcome to share it with Mike at one of the popular "Meetings With Mike", held once a month on Saturdays. Over 120 people have stopped by to have a private discussion with the commissioner.

January's Meetings with Mike will be held on Saturday, January 14th from 10 AM until Noon at his office on the second floor of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center on Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. Additional Meetings with Mike during the first part of 2006 will be on February 11th and March 11th from 10 AM until Noon.

Meetings don't require appointments, and are first-come first served.

Note: Dates for Meetings with Mike may change. Check www.MikeBeaudreau.com for late revisions.

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