Yes, residents will be allowed to talk, now that the cat is out of the bag. Ask the mayor how long he has been working with the church on this project and why he intentionally kept residents in the dark.
S
Susan Hood
8 years ago
House has been purchased by the church and no law can stop them if they want to tear it down. Their site plan shows a soccer field in its place.
S
Susan Hood
8 years ago
Angry:
RIGHT PERSON - Mayor Ted Terry
RIGHT DEGREE - As in This is Like Spinal Tap, up to an 11.
RIGHT TIME - Since citizens uncovered the truth that you worked with the church on this project for many months while intentionally keeping residents in the dark.
RIGHT PURPOSE - To shine a light into the dark corners of our city.
RIGHT WAY - To the media, at city council meetings, conversations with county and state elected officials, on-line forums, ipetitions, at a Town Hall meeting, conversations with neighbors and voters, and with all those Save Clarkston's Neighborhoods yard signs you see when you go to City Hall.
Me - Hey, Aristotle, how'd I do?
Aristotle - Nailed it.
S
Susan Hood
8 years ago
Ted,
So glad you have finally recognized that the residents of Clarkston have decided to express their views and use their voices despite the stealth with which this projects has been handled. You have worked on this project for many months and, showing great disdain for residents, did not inform them. For you to say "There is plenty of time and opportunity for public input" is astonishing. In other words, now that the cat is out of the bag, I guess we'll have to let you talk. You owe every single resident of the city an apology.
As to your statement "Nothing is a done deal" you can bet your life it is not; the citizens and voters of our city will see to that.
T
Ted Terry
8 years ago
"Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy."
-Aristotle
T
Ted Terry
8 years ago
that isn't true. nothing has been approved for rezoning and public input process is current and ongoing. no procedure was bypassed.
T
Ted Terry
8 years ago
the church isn't being destroyed.
T
Ted Terry
8 years ago
it simply is not allowed, under Federal law, to deny an allowable zoned project based on someone's religious views. it is the same law that prevented Newton County from stopping a mosque being built last year.
T
Ted Terry
8 years ago
Yes we agree. there has been and will continue to be many opportunities to give input. Any rezone requests will go through a publicized and deliberative public comment process.
T
Ted Terry
8 years ago
nothing has been approved and no rezoning has been requested. the deception inthis petition language is disgraceful, I agree.
T
Ted Terry
8 years ago
Folks should also understand that it is not legal to place a moratorium targeting one individual or entity. That is simply not allowed under the State law.
Asking any local government to stop property owners from developing their properties in an allowable zoned area because of a disagreement over their religious beliefs or because someone doesn't like what they want to build is simply not allowed under State law.
Clarkston's 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Plan (page 59) can be viewed here: http://cityofclarkston.com/sites/default/files/2018-04/Clarkston2040_toprint_01.31.pdf
Understand that no rezoning requests have been made, and no proposed draft plans have been approved.
There is plenty of time and opportunity for public input. Nothing is a done deal.
If anyone would like to speak with me you can text my cell at 404-585-0833 and we can discuss any concerns or ideas you have!
- Mayor Ted
T
Ted Terry
8 years ago
The NAMB has proposed to renovate the parking lot and plant over 25 trees as well as a rain garden stormwater system on the Rogers st section of parking lot.
W
Woody Thomas
8 years ago
We don't want any heavy development of Clarkston.
I
Iyabo Onipede
8 years ago
This is not in Clarkston's best interest.
B
Branka Gajic
8 years ago
Please stop this shameful and detrimental development.
K
Kelly Pattillo
8 years ago
I truly can't believe why anyone would think that this is a good idea. Every time I walk or drive past that 1900's house, I admire it and wish it were mine. Every time I walk across the existing parking lot and reach the shade provided by the trees on that side, I'm relieved. That huge parking lot may be well used but it's an eyesore with cracks and no landscaping, and stripping the adjacent lot of the old homes and trees is only going to make the parking lot worse and destroy much needed cover. I will be so disappointed in Clarkston city officials if they allow this to happen. If the church needs sports fields, they can go to Milam Park. If the homeowners want to sell that historic home, somebody let me know so I or someone else can figure out how to buy it. Don't tear it down! What an incredible mistake that would be.
S
Suzanne Carter
8 years ago
Featured
I am so disappointed in our elected officials for allowing this to happen. It is detrimental to the city. The deception is disgraceful.
A
Ann McLaughlin
8 years ago
Local residents must be allowed to talk.
C
Coralee Hall
8 years ago
I grew up on Market Street in Clarkston, where my mother still lives. I currently reside in Clarkston with her half of the time. I do not agree with this development for multiple reasons; those listed in the petition, and also the problematic social implications of it. Growing up in Clarkston from 1988 on, I saw the affluent "missionary" groups start coming to essentially gawk at "the poor refugees". I do not believe that we should allow our refugee residents to be fish in a barrel for churches who desire lower-cost, close-to-home poverty tourism. This is disrespectful to their humanity, their dignity, and flies in the face of the organic cross-cultural work that has been done, and continues to be done, by Clarkston residents of all nationalities every single day. Clarkston has been a hotbed of social conflict. When I was growing up, I saw the struggle, in a nutshell, as a fight against the racist establishment. As I've grown older I've come to see it as far more nuanced. The same or more damage can be done by those with good intentions who think they're helping, as by those who actively seek conflict and hatred. Our current city motto is "Clarkston: Where possibilities grow." This is one possibility that should absolutely be stopped from growing in our beautiful anomaly of a town. Please defend Clarkston.
N
Nicole
8 years ago
Important legally required checks were not done for a reason. Don’t let them get away with it! Clarkston residents do not want an organization to take over a large area when their main focus is converting people to their way of thinking and religion.
Yes, residents will be allowed to talk, now that the cat is out of the bag. Ask the mayor how long he has been working with the church on this project and why he intentionally kept residents in the dark.
House has been purchased by the church and no law can stop them if they want to tear it down. Their site plan shows a soccer field in its place.
Angry: RIGHT PERSON - Mayor Ted Terry RIGHT DEGREE - As in This is Like Spinal Tap, up to an 11. RIGHT TIME - Since citizens uncovered the truth that you worked with the church on this project for many months while intentionally keeping residents in the dark. RIGHT PURPOSE - To shine a light into the dark corners of our city. RIGHT WAY - To the media, at city council meetings, conversations with county and state elected officials, on-line forums, ipetitions, at a Town Hall meeting, conversations with neighbors and voters, and with all those Save Clarkston's Neighborhoods yard signs you see when you go to City Hall. Me - Hey, Aristotle, how'd I do? Aristotle - Nailed it.
Ted, So glad you have finally recognized that the residents of Clarkston have decided to express their views and use their voices despite the stealth with which this projects has been handled. You have worked on this project for many months and, showing great disdain for residents, did not inform them. For you to say "There is plenty of time and opportunity for public input" is astonishing. In other words, now that the cat is out of the bag, I guess we'll have to let you talk. You owe every single resident of the city an apology. As to your statement "Nothing is a done deal" you can bet your life it is not; the citizens and voters of our city will see to that.
"Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy." -Aristotle
that isn't true. nothing has been approved for rezoning and public input process is current and ongoing. no procedure was bypassed.
the church isn't being destroyed.
it simply is not allowed, under Federal law, to deny an allowable zoned project based on someone's religious views. it is the same law that prevented Newton County from stopping a mosque being built last year.
Yes we agree. there has been and will continue to be many opportunities to give input. Any rezone requests will go through a publicized and deliberative public comment process.
nothing has been approved and no rezoning has been requested. the deception inthis petition language is disgraceful, I agree.
Folks should also understand that it is not legal to place a moratorium targeting one individual or entity. That is simply not allowed under the State law. Asking any local government to stop property owners from developing their properties in an allowable zoned area because of a disagreement over their religious beliefs or because someone doesn't like what they want to build is simply not allowed under State law. Clarkston's 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Plan (page 59) can be viewed here: http://cityofclarkston.com/sites/default/files/2018-04/Clarkston2040_toprint_01.31.pdf Understand that no rezoning requests have been made, and no proposed draft plans have been approved. There is plenty of time and opportunity for public input. Nothing is a done deal. If anyone would like to speak with me you can text my cell at 404-585-0833 and we can discuss any concerns or ideas you have! - Mayor Ted
The NAMB has proposed to renovate the parking lot and plant over 25 trees as well as a rain garden stormwater system on the Rogers st section of parking lot.
We don't want any heavy development of Clarkston.
This is not in Clarkston's best interest.
Please stop this shameful and detrimental development.
I truly can't believe why anyone would think that this is a good idea. Every time I walk or drive past that 1900's house, I admire it and wish it were mine. Every time I walk across the existing parking lot and reach the shade provided by the trees on that side, I'm relieved. That huge parking lot may be well used but it's an eyesore with cracks and no landscaping, and stripping the adjacent lot of the old homes and trees is only going to make the parking lot worse and destroy much needed cover. I will be so disappointed in Clarkston city officials if they allow this to happen. If the church needs sports fields, they can go to Milam Park. If the homeowners want to sell that historic home, somebody let me know so I or someone else can figure out how to buy it. Don't tear it down! What an incredible mistake that would be.
I am so disappointed in our elected officials for allowing this to happen. It is detrimental to the city. The deception is disgraceful.
Local residents must be allowed to talk.
I grew up on Market Street in Clarkston, where my mother still lives. I currently reside in Clarkston with her half of the time. I do not agree with this development for multiple reasons; those listed in the petition, and also the problematic social implications of it. Growing up in Clarkston from 1988 on, I saw the affluent "missionary" groups start coming to essentially gawk at "the poor refugees". I do not believe that we should allow our refugee residents to be fish in a barrel for churches who desire lower-cost, close-to-home poverty tourism. This is disrespectful to their humanity, their dignity, and flies in the face of the organic cross-cultural work that has been done, and continues to be done, by Clarkston residents of all nationalities every single day. Clarkston has been a hotbed of social conflict. When I was growing up, I saw the struggle, in a nutshell, as a fight against the racist establishment. As I've grown older I've come to see it as far more nuanced. The same or more damage can be done by those with good intentions who think they're helping, as by those who actively seek conflict and hatred. Our current city motto is "Clarkston: Where possibilities grow." This is one possibility that should absolutely be stopped from growing in our beautiful anomaly of a town. Please defend Clarkston.
Important legally required checks were not done for a reason. Don’t let them get away with it! Clarkston residents do not want an organization to take over a large area when their main focus is converting people to their way of thinking and religion.