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TODAY'S ISSUE
Highway 78's CID reaches initial sign-up goal
By Emory Morsberger
Chairman
Highway 78 Corridor Improvement Association
Special to GwinnettForum.com

FEB. 25, 2003 - - It's taken a lot of hard work by several dedicated business owners, but with more than $240 million in property value signed up, the Highway 78 Corridor Improvement Association now has enough consenting property owners to exceed the key criteria for creating a Community Improvement District (CID) for the Highway 78 corridor. We expect to have a CID worth $350 million to be formed by May.

Authorized by House Bill 654 several years ago, a CID is a self-taxing district created through the cooperation of non-residential property owners and local governmental entities. The revenues generated are used for restricted purposes which include, but are not limited to, planning and construction of improvements located within the CID that may not otherwise be provided by applicable governmental entities.

Examples would be enhanced landscaping; interparcel access to make traffic business-friendly; sidewalks; and implementation of an Overlay Zoning District to ensure that new business and redevelopment would be done in a manner that would reflect quality and enhance the needs of the community.

In order to form a CID, the association has to have approval from a majority of the property owners along the proposed district, in this case, a seven-mile stretch of Highway 78 from the DeKalb County line to Oak Road in Snellville. In addition, those consenting must own 75 percent of the assessed property value in the proposed area. The association has complied with 55 percent of consenting property owners, owning 76 percent of the assessed property having signed on as of February 3. We are disappointed that home-town Waffle House hasn't signed up. It's our only negative.

I became concerned about the future of the Highway 78 corridor when I first learned that the Georgia Department of Transportation planned to install medians on U.S. Highway 78 from Stone Mountain to Snellville. Along with several other business and property owners, I helped organize the Highway 78 Corridor Improvement Association in April of last year with an objective to organize efforts that would enhance property values and the overall quality of business environment.

Installation of medians on Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain contributed greatly to the demise of that area after business declined because of lack of access. We wanted to take every measure to insure this would not happen on US Highway 78. Formation of a CID also was a main objectives because it provides money to help achieve our goals.

It's a plus for residential owners and owners of retail outlets who rent their property, because they gain from improvements through increased property values, but are not taxed.

CIDs have been successful in the greater Atlanta area as pro-active organizations that focus on planning and implementing valuable infrastructure and environmental improvements within their districts. While Highway 78 Corridor CID will be the first in Gwinnett County, two others are anticipated to follow. Efforts are under way to organize similar districts in the Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Gwinnett Place areas.

We are blazing new trails in Gwinnett County and attacking blight before it happens. It's an exciting concept and we are delighted to have Gwinnett's first CID.

For additional information on the Highway 78 Corridor Improvement Association visit their Web site at www.highway78.org.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Grayson passes smoking ban;
Norcross sees liquor vote
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

FEB. 25, 2003 -- Gwinnett cities are making news, and getting interesting. For instance, in Loganville, the city was moving to become the first Gwinnett community to ban smoking in all public places, a commendable goal. But then, Grayson came onto the scene.

In Grayson, the City Council on February 17 passed an ordinance banning smoking in all public places. This jumped Grayson ahead of Loganville in passing the first non-smoking ordinance in Gwinnett cities. In reality, there are no restaurants that allow smoking in Grayson. By acting now, Grayson's council stopped any protest about banning smoking by any restaurants. They are to be commended for being ahead of the curve.

Then in nearby Hall County, the City Council in Flowery Branch last week heard protests on a liquor question. The voters last August in that South Hall community had approved the sale of packaged liquor, and one store was approved. Homeowners protested a second store, saying it was too close to schools and subdivisions. A Lawrenceville group building a shopping center had petitioned for the second package store.

In Norcross, there's a move afoot by some to get liquor-by-the-drink served in local restaurants. A group calling itself the Progressive Development Committee, composed of people from the Norcross Homeowner's Association and the Norcross Business Association, asked the Council for a vote on mixed drinks. Council voted to call a referendum on the liquor question on June 17. Norcross presently allows restaurants to serve beer and wine.

Ironically, often in liquor votes, you find homeowners' associations organizing to oppose measures involving alcohol. But in this case, the Homeowners Association is a group of many new residents in Norcross, and probably think of themselves as "progressive." Meanwhile, some businesses downtown feel that having mixed drinks at the local restaurants will bring more business to all the establishments, raising the total economic vitality of the area.

We question if the vote on hard liquor in Norcross will be as readily accepted as easily by the voters as the progressives believe it will. We remember years back when Norcross voted to allow beer and wine to be served in local restaurants. Though it passed, it cost one city council member his church membership, and in general, stirred up a hornet's nest. You see, this was an action by the Council, not a vote of the residents.

The liquor-by-the-drink measure is to be decided by the approximately 1,600 local active voters of the town of 8,000.

What some have introduced into the question is not so much the question of mixed drinks as much as it is: "What would come after that?" Some suggest allowing mixed drinks is only the first step, to be followed by a more seedy arrival of bars, and after that, perhaps even strip clubs.

Meanwhile, some would oppose mixed drinks, preferring pure package stores instead. They point out that this way, there is no aura of people congregating at a "bar."

Those entirely opposed for more liberal liquor laws would fault the council for even calling the question. Others applaud allowing the citizens the opportunity to decide the question, which is required by state law when it pertains to mixed drinks.

Opponents note that mixed drinks are available just past the Norcross city limits, and so why bring this element into a quiet community?

At least the Norcross residents have about four months to discuss the question before them. If we had to predict right now, we would say that the voters might possibly turn down the measure, though there is lots of time left before the vote. Sometimes it takes a question like this being raised to bring people out, and to show that, indeed, it is a community.

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FEEDBACK
2/25: Upset over suggestive lyrics with children around

Editor, the Forum:

On Saturday's Karaoke Night at BAILEY'S in Duluth, there are parents who bring underage children (teenagers) to an adult Karaoke show, which at times features dirty and questionable lyrics.

These lyrics could be substituted for when being sung. Most often the lyrics appear in suggestive form on large TV monitors for the audience. I myself sing songs that have "Beetle Bailey" form slang indices like "#*&#!@*", or questionable phrases, but appropriately change their form when these inappropriate wordings come up in lyrics. Many younger singers don't substitute the language. They often include offensive profanity in songs at any opportunity.

What I really don't understand is that conservative-appearing adults with ordinary (not hoodlum) looking children continually attend the shows for hours well towards midnight. Even more difficult to understand is the fact that adults seated with the children participate in the off-color lyric usage. Is there something being precipitated?

Religious movement? Dirty politics? Just plain inappropriate conduct? A group trying to muddy Karaoke participation, at one of the few safe and pretty much wholesome nightlife opportunities in Gwinnett?

I am baffled. It does appear to me that this deserves scrutiny by someone. But who?

An Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer/photographer appeared at the venue to take photos on a night when the youth were not there. Is there a connection between publicity and mysterious activity? I really hate to think I'm being used as a pawn and at the expense of my recreation.

-- Randy Stephens, Duluth

UPCOMING SPEAKER
2/25: Eyewitness to Pearl Harbor attack to speak

Speaking at the March 17 meeting of the Gwinnett Historical Society will be
Author Mack Abbot, a Pearl Harbor survivor, who wrote "First and Last Shots Fired in World War II." He will speak March 17 at 7:30 at the Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville.

Part of his presentation will be slides and commentary on Marine Corps memories of Pearl Harbor's attack, including some of his personal photos.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Most are decent and hardworking, but ...

"Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hard-working, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then--we elected them."

-- Lily Tomlin

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