Alan Mauldin
May 12, 2008 10:02 pm
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THOMASVILLE — A proposal to transfer city- and county-owned land for development as an industrial park drew criticism Monday night when the Thomasville City Council took up the issue.
The council voted on a first reading to approve the transfer of a little more than 200 acres to the Thomasville Payroll Development Authority for use as industrial sites. The council will have to pass the resolution on a second reading, and Thomas County Commission would have to approve the resolution, before it would be final.
The land in question consists of tracts of 131, 46, and 26 acres and area adjacent to Thomasville Regional Airport and Country Oaks Golf Course.
Speakers who voiced opposition pointed to the loss of forest land and potential water contamination in an area that is in the vicinity of the headwaters of the Aucilla River as reasons to consider the proposal carefully.
“It’s an ecological dream,” Rick Bracey said of the area. “There are trees there that are well over 100 years old, and they’re hardwood. You hardly ever see that. This is a cool piece of property, and once you destroy it, it’s gone.”
Bracey encouraged council members to go out and look at the land, and two — Camille Payne and Earl Williams — expressed interest in examining the property. He also called on council members to delay taking action until more investigation is done.
Another potential compromise brought up by Bracey is developing the land on the smaller tracts where roadways already exist rather than the largest tract.
The proposal calls for the development authority to pay $5,650 per acre, with proceeds going to the airport.
Council member Roy Campbell told the audience that the industrial development likely would not occur throughout the location, but is meant to provide industrial sites while economic development officials identify other land for future use.
“We’re not going to fill this thing up,” he said. “We’re trying to locate land.”
Payne said that she had four phone calls Monday from residents concerned about the potential environmental impact in the area.
Jerry Turner, an ecologist and nature videographer, said in an interview following the council meeting that he thinks other locations in the county could be found without developing the forest land.
“I’ve been looking at those woods for 20 years, and they’ve been impressing me all along,” he said. “I’ve heard rumors that something like this may happen, and now it seems to be happening. I don’t think they’ve looked hard enough for acres that are already cleared.”
In a letter she presented to the council, county resident Beth Grant asked members not to rush a decision.
“This property is owned by the citizens, and I don’t believe we really know what we have there,” the letter said. “It is my understanding that at least part of this property may be old-growth forest. I propose that we need another kind of survey by appropriate environmental groups like (Georgia Department of Natural Resources) and/or others.”
Reporter Alan Mauldin can be reached by calling (229) 226-2400, ext. 226.
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