Margaret Rasmussen from The Redbud Project, an environmental protection group in Gainesville, presented several goals Feb. 24 to Gainesville City Council. She suggested that the city adopt ordinances for greenspace protection within the Gainesville 85 Business Park (on Allen Creek Road), and use specific landscaping to improve air flow at drive-thrus.
We surveyed citizens to find out their concerns about conserving water, air, land, and green space. The overwhelming response was: We don’t want to look like Gwinnett County, Rasmussen stated.
Rasmussen claimed that she hadn’t heard back from city officials a week after her presentation, but she was hopeful that they would heed Redbuds words.
Rasmussen stated that I know every one of our city council members is very, very green. These proposals give them something they can actually decide about.
Rasmussen has more ambitious plans for Gainesville’s 85 Business Park. It is currently under construction and will be completed with new utilities in 2023. Rasmussen stated that at least 30% of the 1,300 acres should remain under tree canopy. This is based on research by James Porter, University of Georgia professor.
She stated that if you maintain 30% of the tree canopy, or greenspace, you will help to reduce climate change and global warming in the local area. To set the standard, do it at the Gainesville 85 business park. This is your business area, it can be a niche that companies want to create an environment.
Linda MacGregor, Gainesville’s director of water resources, stated that there are already ways for the city to prevent the business park becoming too developed. The city will manage 330 acres, or just over 25% of the property, to protect Allen Creek which runs through the middle of the property. The nature trails will run from the Allen Creek Soccer Complex to its end.
MacGregor stated that property development often results in property lines running to the center of the stream. Instead of doing that here we are keeping it as city property.
She said that this will allow the city manage stormwater runoff. While it’s not the same as conserving tree canopy, preventing 25% of the property being developed would be a contribution to environmental protection.
Redbud Project partnered last fall with a McDonalds to install certain evergreen and deciduous plants at its drive-thru. This will improve air quality and capture and reduce emissions from idling cars. Redbuds proposal to the city is to pass an ordinance that requires air quality control landscapes for all new constructions and renovations to drive-thru establishments.
Redbud was invited by Sam Couvillon, Mayor of New Orleans, to speak before the council, he said to The Times. Couvillon said that Redbud was the first person to present to council members.
We’ll continue to have discussions, get to know Redbud and their goals better, and then we’ll just address that as they go.
Couvillon plans to meet Bob Swoszowski, who owns several McDonalds restaurants in the area. He was the first to adopt Redbuds’ landscaping plan to improve the air quality.
He said that having a partner like Mr. Swoszowski makes it easier. Being on council has taught me one thing: if you can get a private partner, it makes it easier. The government budget is stretched and it can be difficult to keep everyone committed to projects that they want to do.
Danny Dunagan, a Councilman, stated that Redbud’s presentation was the first time that he had heard about landscaping improvements that lead to better air quality in businesses like those with drive-thrus.
Dunagan said that everyone should think about this when they are landscaping.
Rasmussen stated that green practices could be just as important for the economy as they are for the environment.
Rasmussen expressed the belief that the City Council is a model for Hall County and has a green heart.