Mike Beaudreau
Gwinnett County Commissioner for District 3
A Note from MikeHello, Everyone: Welcome to the second edition of my email newsletter, published about once a quarter to keep third district residents informed about some of the action the Commission is taking, and what is going on around the county. Over the past few months, the commission made several decisions and started several projects that will affect county residents. First, we decided to not to increase the millage rate for property tax bills this year. While holding the line on taxes this year will help the county attract businesses, it also means that we will have to be conservative in creating our budgets for 2006 later on this year. On April 19th, We broke ground on the county's new Police Training Complex, located on Winder Highway near the Department of Public Utilities. When the new facility opens in 2007, officers will have a modern facility, with classrooms, gun firing range, and a driver's training course. We authorized additional manpower and facilities to improve security at the Justice and Administration Center, and concluded a long running legal battle, when we won approval to discharge up to 40 million gallons of reclaimed water per day into Lake Lanier. Finally, the first of the county's traffic cameras began ticketing speeders, with two additional cameras in the works. I am very interested in hearing your opinions on the issues facing the county. 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. Mike Beaudreau Mike Proposes Stricter Requirements for Conservation SubdivisionsMike has proposed changes to the county's conservation subdivision overlay zoning classification that would add an additional 200 square feet to the minimum home size and require brick, stone, stucco, or fiber cement exteriors. At present, minimum sizes are 1,600 square feet for single-story houses, and 1,800 square feet for two story homes. The proposal was partially in response to the concerns of District 3 residents concerned that the smaller homes in these new subdivisions didn't match their lower density neighborhoods. Mike said, "If property is already zoned for residential use, developers can elect to put in a conservation subdivision by agreeing to preserve at least 50% of the property as green space. Because no hearing is required, some developers have chosen to build homes that meet the minimum standards specified for the district. In situations where rezoning is required, developers know that their proposed home sizes and amenities must be similar to surrounding subdivisions in order for the rezoning to be approved. " At its meeting on May 24th, the commission placed a "moratorium", so to speak, on accepting plans for new conservation subdivisions until July 5th. By that time, the commission will have had time to gather input from the county's Tree Advisory Committee, and should be able to make a decision at its meeting on that day. Commission To Launch "Operation Fixing Broken Windows"The Gwinnett County Commission will launch "Operation Fixing Broken Windows" on June 21st. The campaign, which is intended to prevent the deterioration of the county's older neighborhoods, and maintain the quality of life throughout the county, consists of enhanced enforcement of zoning laws, increased police visibility, and greater awareness of some of the small things that detract from pleasant living. The stepped up effort is being made following the appearance of Dr. George Kelling, author of the book, "Fixing Broken Windows". Based on his experience working with police in New York, Newark, and other major cities, the author believes that if neighborhoods don't pay attention to small things, like fixing a broken window, urban decay ultimately occurs. Similarly, in deteriorated neighborhoods, maintaining and repairing fairly small things, such as removing gang graffiti, will quickly lead to great improvements. Commissioner Beaudreau commented, "One of my goals when I was elected was to preserve the quality of life in the county, and to make it a safer place to live. This initiative goes a long way towards achieving that goal." The commissioner cautioned, "I think that in order for Operation Fixing Broken Windows to be a success, it will require the participation of the county's citizens, in addition to the efforts of police and county personnel. Residents can help us out in this effort by pointing out areas in need of attention." Follow this link to learn more about Operation Fixing Broken Windows, and find out about how to report possible code violations. Commissioner Beaudreau Addresses Citizens Rezoning ConcernsOn May 2nd, Mike met with dozens of concerned Grayson citizens concerned about rezonings, and their impact on neighborhoods and schools. Meetings like this help him get a better understanding of the issues that homeowners see as being important regarding new development. "I think that it's important that residents understand the entire process that goes into a rezoning", the commissioner said. "Some people think that once a rezoning sign goes up on a property, there is nothing they can do to change the outcome". He points out that vocal neighborhood opposition led to a developer's withdrawal of a request that would have rezoned a popular strawberry farm near Loganville to a strip shopping center. He also pointed out that meeting with the developer's representative to discuss neighborhood concerns can lead to modifications of the original plans or other concessions. For example, a developer recently agreed to hold off groundbreaking for all brick cluster homes near Snellville for a year, until school construction in the Brookwood cluster is complete. By documenting concerns prior to a rezoning or planning commission hearing, commissioners can gain a better understanding of the issues, and can sometimes require modifications prior to approval. Meetings with Mike Summer ScheduleThe popular "Meetings with Mike", where District 3 residents can discuss issues and concerns with their county commissioner at a time convenient to them, will continue this summer. Interested citizens can come to the Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville on June 25th and July 9th from 10 AM until Noon. Meetings don't require appointments, and are first-come first served. The June session is being held two weeks later than normal, due to scheduling conflicts. In addition, the meetings will be held in the mornings only, rather than continuing into the early afternoon. However, Mike will stay as long as necessary to meet with anyone still waiting at the end of the scheduled time. Vines Gardens Park OpensVines Gardens Park, located on Oak Grove Road between Grayson and Loganville was officially opened as a county park on April 12th. As a passive use park, it features a large lake surrounded by landscaped walking trails. Following the grand opening ceremonies, Mike said, "Vines Gardens Park is a unique addition to the county's collection of parks. I'm glad that I was able to help arrange for the property to be open to the public again". Originally donated to the county, the park was operated for several years as a botanical gardens by a private foundation. Until its recent reopening, it was operated as a private restaurant. Upcoming Public EventsThis summer, we will see the start and completion of projects in District 3. You are welcome to visit with Mike at any of these events:
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