The Macon County Board of Commissioners delayed discussions and possible votes on the watershed and soil erosion ordinance changes until January 2025, adding a discussion and possible study about removing the Lake Emory Dam.
Board Chair Gary Shields said the pause was so the Planning Board could review the watershed protection ordinance, plus the county received requests from the towns of Highlands and Franklin to be involved.
This twist comes as the county commissioners have considered various ordinance amendments that many contend would weaken Macon County’s waterways and lead to more flooding. The commissioners approved the first change in August, amending the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance, so that the minimum requirement for a Soil and Erosion Sediment Control study increased from disturbing half an acre to a full acre.
The second vote, scheduled for the Sept. 10 meeting, proposes amending the Watershed Protection Ordinance to allow recreational vehicle parks to receive a Special Nonresidency Intensity Allocation in certain watersheds. The third vote, scheduled for Oct. 8, would have amended the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance to allow up to 25% of outside fill in a floodplain acre.
According to the Watershed Protection Ordinance, no action shall be taken until the proposal has been submitted to the Planning Board for review and recommendation. However, if no recommendation has been received from the Planning Board within 45 days after submission of the proposal to the chairman of the Planning Board, the commissioners “may proceed as though a favorable report has been received.”
The planning board last met on May 2, where they tabled all proposed ordinance changes until further review. Since then, the commissioners discussed the ordinance in May, put together a committee of commissioners and Planning Board members, held one meeting, and then had all three ordinances on the July 9 meeting agenda. Since May, numerous people have decried the commissioners for acting hastily and potentially damaging the county’s waterways.
Commissioner Josh Young, who pushed for the ordinance changes, said on Sept. 10 he welcomed having the Planning Board meet and review the two remaining proposed changes.
Commissioner Paul Higdon asked about conducting a comprehensive study on possibly removing the Lake Emory Dam.
“A free-flowing stream through the area would be a phenomenal asset in the long run,” Higdon said. “Let’s go all the way with it.”
There were 11 public speakers left over from the Aug. 13 meeting signed up to speak, most about the proposed ordinance changes. Seven of those were not in attendance on Sept. 10.
Paul Chew told the commissioners to consider the science behind those decisions and not to rush. Sarah Johnson is against having RV parks in the watershed, saying she wants kids to be baptized in the same waters as their grandfathers. Jason Love asked the commissioners to change the Soil and Erosion Control ordinance slope requirement from 1:1, which he said is a 45% slope. Mary Ann Ingram said she in the spirit of the Lorax, wants to protect the land and the trees.