§ 5. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Meriwether County should continue planning activities in accord with the policies and provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Accordingly, the County should identify salient elements of natural and manmade environments, their interrelationships, and major problems and/or opportunities they present for community development. To accomplish this, the County should assess those environmental factors which will: (1) minimize or prevent undue damage, unwise use, or unwarranted preempting of natural resources and opportunities; (2) recognize and make prudent allowance for major latent environmental dangers or risks such as floods and air and water pollution; and (3) foster the human benefits obtainable from use of the natural environment by use of the opportunities available such as the use of natural drainage systems for park and recreational areas.
Meriwether County should seek, under the above policies and goals, to: (1) avoid adverse environmental impacts on the neighborhoods or community areas through the planning and careful location and development of community facilities; (2) provide environmental amenities to all areas being planned for, and access to such amenities; and (3) equalize the impact and burden of community change and development on living areas, rather than to concentrate them in areas where "sites are cheap."
The County should also incorporate State of Georgia environmental policies and standards, including those developed in response to federal law regarding protection of air and water quality and control and abatement of noise. The County will also incorporate HUD environmental policies and standards for floodplain management and noise abatement and control.
The land use plan which has been developed for Meriwether County will alter the existing environment in a number of ways. The expansion of residential land utilization into heretofore undeveloped land will exert the most noticeable changes in the environment. Similarly, the development of additional land for commercial, industrial, and public purposes will exert periodic changes in the environment. The activities which will accompany this development, such as the extension of water, sewer, and electric lines will result in temporary changes (trenches, holes, fills, and other byproducts of the actual construction of these utilities) in the environment in the immediate vicinity of a particular expansion project. In additional to these types of projects, there are various policies such as the Floodplain Ordinance, the recommended Certificate of Occupancy Procedure, and the Development Policies that will have an indirect effect upon the natural environment of Meriwether County.
If the proposed plan is implemented, there will be beneficial as well as adverse impacts upon the environment. It should be the policy of the County officials to preserve and protect the environment for future generation of residents in Meriwether County.
The proposals in the land use plan which might have an adverse impact which cannot be avoided included the construction of streets, sewers, water lines, and electric lines in conjunction with residential, commercial, and industrial development. Upon completion of expansion projects, the water and sewer system will have little effect upon the environment. Construction and improvements on streets will require certain safeguards to prevent siltation and erosion. These can be controlled by proper cleaning and grubbing and construction of sedimentation basins. Since Meriwether County is situated on rolling terrain, the effect of residential, commercial, and industrial locations could conceivably affect the environment in a negative manner, unless proper planning and safeguards are implemented.
The alternatives to these proposals can have a more detrimental environmental impact than the proposed implementation. Not providing a public water system can lead to health hazards and an unsanitary environment. Not improving road conditions or properly constructing new streets could increase the possibility of accidents and reduce safety for the residents of Meriwether County.
The shortterm use of man's environment with these improvements are necessary to prevent worse detrimental environmental impacts and for man's welfare. There should be no irreversible or irretrievable commitments of resources except for the raw material which will be used in construction.
Clearing and grubbing on roads should meet the requirements of the State Department of Transportation. The water system should be installed according to the environmental safe guards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency according to the guidelines established by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Housing and industrial location and building must meet local zoning requirements, along with proper building regulations and requirements.