Rally Planned to Protest Airport Expansion

Citizens for a Better Gwinnett (C4BG) member Jim Regan said his group has one goal in mind for the Feb. 22 Gwinnett County Commission meeting.

“We’re just trying to keep getting their attention,” he said.

Regan and a group of citizens opposed to the plan to attend the Tuesday night commission meeting to make sure commissioners know citizens are paying attention to discussions and developments regarding future plans for the Lawrenceville airport.

C4BG members plan to address the commission at the conclusion of regular business.

Regan, who has attended , said he remains concerned about plans for the airport despite assurances from some commissioners that .

“All they talk about is that we have to increase revenue,” Regan said.

While privatizing and expanding the airport would not result in a direct revenue increase for the county, there could be an indirect benefit.

“They think it is going to generate more taxes,” Regan said listing hotel, fuel, rental car and other taxes as an example. Though revenues may increase, there is a downside, he explained.

“To offset that, it’s going to further decline home values,” he said.

Regan said he has done extensive research and read numerous reports regarding the affect of airport expansions on the value of surrounding properties.

“I’ve yet to find one that says it affects [property values] in a positive way,” he said. “When you go to the final analysis, they all say it’s a negative impact on home values and also commercial values.”

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners meets at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. The Feb. 22 meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

For more information about Citizens for a Better Gwinnett, visit their website at: http://better-gwinnett.org/