Hotel Rezoning Tabled

Loganville Planning Commission, at their meeting Thursday night, tabled the request to annex and rezone the property at Brand and Oak Roads.

A developer, Diversified Development Co., had petitioned the commission to annex the 3+ acre track into the city limits of Loganville and rezone the property from residential to CH for a hotel.

At the meeting, attended by a number of Bay Creek homeowners, the developer asked the planning commission to table his rezoning request for 30 days. He gave no explanation for his reason to table his request.

The planning commission will meet at at 7:30 p.m., October 23, to listen to Diversified's petition.

Hotel Rezoning Meeting TONIGHT

The Loganville Planning Commission meets tonight (Thursday, September 25) to discuss the annexation and possible rezoning of the property at Brand and Oak Road for a hotel.

The hearing is set for 7:30 p.m. at the City Council building, Pecan Street, Loganville.

The date we posted earlier on the blog regarding the rezoning was for the Loganville City Council to hear the zoning request. Tonight's meeting will be for the zoning board to hear arguments for and against annexing the property into Loganville and then rezoning the property for a hotel. Based on those arguments and recommendation from the planning department, the zoning board will vote on the resolution.

Last year, when the hotel rezoning question came up, the Planning Department recommended building a hotel on the property. The developer withdrew his petition for rezoning for the hotel based on the strong opposition from area residents.

Please try to attend the meeting and let the commissioners know how you feel about the possibility of a hotel so near our neighborhood.

Several readers have posted opinions on this blog supporting the hotel. If you are one of those and feel strongly about your opinion, you need to attend the meeting too. The beauty of living in our nation is that we can have differing opinions!

Homeowners May Lose Homestead Exemption

Based on a new ruling by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, homeowners may lose their homestead exemptions.

A Bay Creek resident contacted us this week, telling us about a property tax bill she received with the following, VERY IMPORTANT if you are a homeowner, notice that read:

"Important- Homestead Tax Relief Grant may be in jeopardy. If you received Homestead exemption on your tax bill, your bill has been reduced by the Homestead Tax Relief Grant enacted by the Governor & the General Assembly. Money to fund the grant is part of the state of Georgia's 2009 budget. Funding for the HTRG may be eliminated by the state legislature. If eliminated, the tax commissioner may be required to send an additional tax bill for this amount. Please take notice & plan accordingly."

If you missed news reports, the governor has proposed eliminating homestead tax exemption relief that the state previously approved. If you would like to voice your opinion on this action do as the Newnan Times-Herald urges homeowners to do:

"Contact Perdue's office. Let the governor know how you feel about his proposal. Granted, Perdue has to make some tough decisions because of our faltering economy, but increasing the property tax burden on local homeowners in the middle of the budget year doesn't fly."

"You can sound off to Perdue's office by calling 678-436-7442 or 1-800-436-7442. Or you can contact the governor's office online by going to Georgia.gov. On that Web site click "contact us." On the contact us page, scroll to the bottom and click "contact Governor Perdue." A form will appear and you can e-mail a message to Perdue."

"Perdue needs to get an earful of taxpayers' comments. We hope he will listen -- even though he won't be up for election again as governor."

Another rezoning battle ahead

It seems like just yesterday that the homeowners at Bay Creek were at Loganville City Hall fighting the rezoning of property at Brand Road, Hwy. 78, and Oak Rd. for a hotel.

Well, it looks like the rezoning battle is back on. The developer has AGAIN requested that the property be rezoned for a hotel. Gwinnett County has denied the developer's request so now he is going to the Loganville City Countil, asking them to annex the property into Loganville and then rezone the property for a hotel.

We all saw what happened to the once nice Ramada Inn in downtown Loganville. The hotel is now a not-so-nice hotel and no longer carries the Ramada name. The same could happen to whatever hotel is being planned for this property (that's pretty darn close to our neighborhood.)

Traffic is already horrible at this intersection. A hotel will only add to the congestion.

The Bay Creek HOA opposes the rezoning, and we ask that those of you who also oppose this will attend the Loganville City Council Rezoning meeting, Oct. 6, 7:30, at the Loganville City Hall on Pecan Street.

For more information, contact Lamar Bates, 770.554.3466 or lamarphotography@comcast.net.

Sidewalk Adventures

Sometimes walking down the sidewalks of our neighborhood can be an adventure, especially when you are trying to dodge the overgrown bushes and shrubs covering the sidewalks.

Some homeowners in our neighborhoods have allowed their roses, junipers, vines and flowers to over run sections of our sidewalks.

Residents pushing strollers, pulling wagons, riding bikes, or just walking down the sidewalk are forced to step into the street to avoid the overgrown sidewalk plant life.

Be thoughtful and considerate of your walking neighbors. Keep the sidewalks in front of your house PLANT FREE!

Four Wheelers for Off Roading NOT for Our Streets

In recent weeks, our neighborhood has been plagued by youngsters riding four wheelers and dirt bikes up and down our streets (or even on our sidewalks.)

Riding four wheelers or dirt bikes on county streets and sidewalks is illegal...and even MORE illegal when the drivers or passengers are not wearing helmets.

According to eyewitness reports, several of these dirt bike/four wheeler vehicles have almost collided with cars or trucks, often with drivers barely avoiding hitting these young riders.

The Gwinnett police and the two local officers hired to patrol our neighborhood have been alerted to the youthful violators. Tickets will be issued, and if ignored, bikes will be impounded.

Afterall, these bikes/four wheelers are for OFF ROAD USE ONLY....and may not be used on streets at any time.

It's Not Too Early to Think HALLOWEEN!

While the day of trick or treating, spooks and goblins is still two months away, it's not too early to start planning a Halloween party for your neighborhood, and the Bay Creek HOA wants to help with those plans.

We have set aside $300 for each neighborhood - The Landings I, Landings II, The Cove and The Plantation at Bay Creek - to use for hot dogs, beverages, party supplies and prizes. Last year, only two of the four neighborhoods had volunteers who offered to plan and coordinate parties for their residents...Landings II (the part of our neighborhood that's off the Village subdivision) and the Plantation.

This year, we want EVERY neighborhood to host a party but for that to happen, we need volunteers to coordinate the parties...at least one volunteer for each neighborhood.

What do you have to do as a volunteer?

1. Ask a couple of neighbors to help you with the event.
2. Send out fliers to your neighbors and make sure everyone is invited and asked to bring cookies, salad or other dish to the party.
3. Get a volunteer to grill the hot dogs.
4. Have a great time seeing how cute all the children look in their Halloween attire.

Want to make sure your neighborhood children have a party on Halloween? Contact Diane or Lamar Bates, 770.554.3466, for details on how you can help or email us at baycreekhoa@gmail.com .