Last night a friend asked me, “What is this scenic byway stuff all about?” I was struck by his question. As a journalist I’ve struggled to accurately and fairly convey the story to help people understand it. Obviously, I failed; either that, or my friend’s not reading Now Habersham (shame on you, Mark). Shame on me as a journalist if I’ve failed to help you better understand the issue.
I awoke this morning to news that the byway is now essentially dead, stopped in its tracks by strong opposition and local officials who chose to listen and lead rather than allow the issue to continue to tear our community apart.
The City of Clarkesville says it will no longer actively pursue the Soque Scenic Byway. As councilwoman Barrie Aycock told me, “That horse is dead.”
Over the past year I have listened to and talked with numerous people about the Soque Scenic Byway proposal; from politicians and business owners who saw the potential benefits, to landowners who saw the potential pitfalls, to sideline observers who just wanted to know what all the fuss was about. Quite frankly, at times I wondered about that myself. I live along the 46.9 mile stretch of road that was included in the byway so I did have a ‘dog in this hunt.’ Still, I had a difficult time formulating a personal opinion because I was so overwhelmed by the opinions of others. Maybe we all were.
Here’s what I do know. The Soque Scenic Byway became far too divisive. Personal attacks were leveled at those both for and against it. Moderators and public officials were treated rudely during hearings. People adopted an ‘Us vs. Them’ attitude toward the county and City of Clarkesville. It was just downright sad.
The Soque Scenic Byway was envisioned as a unifying force for the county; a way to attract tourists, boost the local economy and preserve Habersham County’s natural beauty and history. I have absolutely no doubt it was well-intentioned. I have no doubt at the outset the whole thing seemed quite benign. The ensuing controversy is an example of good intentions gone awry.
Rightly or wrongly, people today are scared of big government. They don’t trust politicians and planners in Washington and that distrust has trickled down to the state and local level.
Real or imagined, people had concerns. They spoke of their fears about increased traffic, higher taxes, eminent domain and government regulation. They voiced their concerns. Loudly.
What you might not have heard amidst the yelling and name calling is this. The Georgia Scenic Byways Program Designation Guide specifically states the program does not expand the Georgia Department of Transportation’s power of eminent domain and the only state land use restriction is on new billboards; you can’t build ’em, not along scenic byways. I for one like that. Who wants a fourteen-foot billboard blocking their view of the Blue Ridge? Preservation of our community’s heritage also appeals to me. Habersham County is steeped in history and if the true passion behind the debate was to keep things from changing then securing scenic byway status and developing a corridor management plan certainly is one way to achieve that.
Like most landowners I don’t want some outside entity – local or otherwise – to tell me what I can and can’t do with my property. But I also don’t want some greedy outside developer to come strip away the natural beauty that surrounds my family and me in this community that we love.
There has to be a balance. The issue was – and is – finding it.
Much of what residents were being asked to sign onto with the Soque Scenic Byway requires trust. Trust in our local elected leaders and other public officials to protect our property and interests. Unfortunately, trust is what appears to be lacking these days.
We discussed the Soque Scenic Byway for nearly two years. Another public hearing was scheduled in January. There will be no more public hearings, at least, not for now. To steal a line from Aycock, “That horse is dead.” Maybe it will come back to life one day, who knows. If it does, I hope we will all be better informed to ask the right questions and better prepared to answer them.
As the dust settles over the Soque Scenic Byway I urge you to step back, take a deep breath and learn as much as you can about the byway proposal and the Georgia Scenic Byway program. Call your local elected officials. Call GDOT. Talk with those who live in communities where byways exist (there’s a list of communities on the Georgia Scenic Byways website). Research it yourself. Don’t just listen to the opinions of others.
Here are some links that might help you. The Georgia Scenic Byways website is full of information about the state byway program. Here’s a link to the Soque Scenic Byway application that was submitted to GDOT in May 2013. Finally, here’s a link to the Soque Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan. Click it, read it and form your own opinion.
All this may seem irrelevant now but it’s not. Even if Habersham never again pursues a local byway there will be other issues and disagreements. The best thing we can do for ourselves and each other is to make sure we know what we’re talking about when we speak publicly in support of or against future issues. The best we can do for ourselves and each other is learn how to agree to disagree. We may not like what the other side’s saying but we don’t have to be hateful about it. We can and should be civil towards one another for, at the end of the day, no matter what issues we face we’re still a community. We’re a collection of individuals, families, friends and neighbors bound by geography and a host of common interests. Some of us were born here, others of us chose to live here. We come from all parts of the world but we call Habersham home.
Look around and you’ll see, the things that unite us are far greater than those that divide us. If nothing else ever comes of the Soque Scenic Byway I hope at least we all can learn that.
