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Rash of new legislation seeks to make inroads to affordable housing By ZOE SEILER zoe@appenmedia.com ATLANTA – Democratic Georgia House members are working to address various housing issues. State Reps. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), Phil Olaleye (D-Atlanta), and others announced a bipartisan package of legislation on Feb. 12 to address affordability. That package also seeks to expand housing supply, strengthen tenant protections, and encourage more affordable housing development. “There is an issue of housing affordability across Georgia,” Oliver said. “We need more doors. We need more opportunities and a wide variety of ways.” The House Minority Caucus’s legislation includes proposals related to tax incentives, tenant protections, zoning reform, and affordable housing development. “Whether you’re trying to buy your first home, stay in the home you already have, or just keep up with rent
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FORSYTH COUNTY/PROVIDED
Mary Alice Park, east of Cumming on the western shore of Lake Lanier, is one of Forsyth County’s busiest parks.
Parks director requests gate to crack down on fee dodgers By JON WILCOX jon@appenmedia.com
ZOE SEILER/APPEN MEDIA
Georgia Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver represents House District 84, which includes Decatur and parts of unincorporated DeKalb County.
ROI
matters.
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — After a summer where as many as half of Mary Alice Park visitors skipped the required parking fee, Forsyth County may add a gate to require payment. At a Feb. 10 work session, parks Director Kirk Franz asked the Forsyth County Commission to consider the $47,000 purchase of a parking gate to be installed at Mary Alice Park.
Commissioners will consider the item for a vote at an upcoming meeting. Located on the western shore of Lake Lanier, the park, 1820 Mary Alice Park Road, is one of the county’s busiest recreation destinations, he said. Amenities include a boat ramp, courtesy dock, picnic pavilion, sand beach and swimming area. Parking for the day costs $10, and annual passes are $60. Parking fees were left to an “honor
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system” with little enforcement, Franz said. Observations by park staff and deputies last summer have led Franz to suspect 25-50 percent of visitors were ignoring the required parking fees. Franz said the gate would be similar to those at parking decks, requiring every visitor to pay before leaving. A QR code and app could make payment even easier, he said.
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