At tonight’s county commission meeting, residents turned out to speak during the public comments. A large crowd clapped several times during comments. Sherry Donnelly noted that if she really threw well, she could pitch a rock onto the proposed Dollar General site. Donnelly is the creator of a petition on Change.org asking commissioners to 
rescind or approve conditions to the Dollar General application. She highlighted portions of the 2008 Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2008 that called for the portion of Hwy 17 under discussion to be designated rural conservation. Donnelly handed over 1,000 names from the petition to the commission. She noted that she and her family moved to that area “to have quiet and to have stars in sky,” and that if something isn’t done, “17 will look like 129 going into Cleveland.”
Lisa Mount who lives part-time in Sautee and part-time in New Orleans, asked “what do we value as a community?” and that the commission use this situation to “help us do better” by understanding the process to let it be a “wake-up call.” Mount also noted that a Dollar General was built near her home in New Orleans. The section of New Orleans where the store was built was in a historic area and the store conformed to the regulations in that section and blended into the neighborhood aesthetic.
Charles Timko, owner of the Amish Red Barn, spoke up in support and noted that 6 acres of the 9 acre proposal are to be donated to the county. Timko lives next to the fire station and noted “the fire station needs room.” One of the ideas put forward for the donated land is for an expansion of the fire station. The Amish Red Barn is for sale.
Doug Williams who lives off 255A expressed “some concern about development” and noted that the “corridors that lead into historic areas such as Batesville and Sautee need to blend into the historic aesthetic.”
Lew Oliver, who has worked in planning and development in many areas, spoke of the unique combination of beauty and people in Habersham. Oliver noted that property development “shouldn’t undermine the property around it.” He has arranged a meeting with a representative from Dollar General and notes. “they are receptive to building to specifications” that would help the store blend into the area.
At the close of the comments, Commission Chair, Andrea Harper called upon the County Attorney, Tommie Hunt to explain the process for Dollar General and noted that Planning Director, Tom Braswell, would be in the lobby for people to speak with him about Dollar General’s proposal. Hunt noted that the property is designated HI and Dollar General does not have to seek approval to place a retail establishment on the property as it is a permitted use in 
HI. Dollar General does have to make application and go through planning review with the planning director.
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