Remarks by Stephanie Johnson
20 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 1
- Play at 2:54:44
“Really quickly, I just wanted to say that if it passes or not, one of the things, if it's reconsidered, one thing I haven't heard anyone say or state is how it's going to be taxed with the school and with the property tax. If that could be embedded into some language if it passes, the consideration of that.”
Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 2:56:05
“Would this be a burden on our tax assessor?”
Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 5:30:37
“I got them written all over the place, but the takeaway that I heard tonight is out of 115 people that spoke tonight, more than half of them talked about how UGA has impacted their life as it relates to increased prices, living costs, options and now this, what I don't particularly like about this scenario is the fact that the University of Georgia would not meet with the residents. There was no heads up and I think the statement, the nervous man, and I'm nervous too, stated was it slipped and snuck in and it feels like that and I don't support it because the lack of transparency.”
Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 5:42:24
“Yeah, I'm really surprised that people are hoping that this moves forward with all the we don't know the answer to that we heard from our county manager. Traffic calming is great, but I have a project that's waiting on traffic calming right now, and I can't get it. I asked for information. Nothing is promised. This is disrupting a neighborhood. And, you know, if UGA can call every single commissioner, They can call and get in touch with the residents that will be affected. Whatever happened three years ago, last year, when we have a 67-year-old gentleman that came in this evening to talk…”
Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 6:04:30
“Just two months ago, I heard a commissioner say, why would we vote for this? That would be pointless. There's nowhere else for them to go. We need a solution first. I'm not hearing that tonight. We need a solution. They asked for a solution. It is inhumane. There is also threat and liability that you are applying to the police department to ask them to make a determination based on interpretation and discretion, because everybody is different. Every single officer is different. Good days, bad days, short days, long days, and we're asking them to do that. I mean, I know they're professionals…”
Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 6:19:12
“Thank you. I heard someone earlier say that nobody's going to oppose number 30. I just wanted to clarify some things that I read into number 30 that are not clear, and I want you to know that they aren't clear because I want you to demand some specificity when it comes down to it. So I'm not voting, but I'm abstaining because of my volunteerism, but I wanted to share. So, okay, here's the thing. This resolution, like someone said earlier about not having teeth, that was real, and it is real. But this item resolution, it recognizes the homeless problem, so we feel good. It authorizes further…”
Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 6:33:52
“Oh, thank you. I think I have four things. The first one is the second town hall for the Mall Redevelopment Project update is going to be on Thursday, August 13th. And I'll be sending out an advertisement tomorrow or the day after, but within the next 36 hours. The second thing is I was able to find a contact through a great resource for someone that serves on GDOT's board for the state. to actually partner with me. And I'm going to host a town hall for all of the folks that are asking, what's going on with Atlanta Highway? When are they going to finish? What's going on with the 10 loop? I…”
Commission · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 7:49
“First, I want to point out there's a discrepancy in the number of days. On page two in the agenda item, it says the school resource officers will work 179 days. But in the Clark County School District's contract, it says 180. It's just a small typo that just needs to be clarified.”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 8:17
“You're welcome. The second thing I had a question about is the total that's here, $470,000, is it going to cover six officers' salaries and a portion of the supervisor's salary, as I understand it, I'm curious if the officers that work in the school resource officer program, I'm not sure if they are different ranks, but I just wanted to make sure that their salaries were covered regardless of their rank and the $470,000 captured that.”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 40:34
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 42:00
“Great, that sounds wonderful. Does that mean they have a contract with the Butler building to use 30 of their spaces?”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 42:15
“And my last question is related to the variances. You spoke to one. The other one was the reduction in screening. Why was that supported?”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 42:40
“Thank you so much. I appreciate the explanation.”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:09:43
“Thanks. I noticed that the Planning Commission departed from the specific protection, financial protection of requesting by the Transportation and Public Works Department. Their original request was they were in support of Placing money equal to the construction cost in escrow. The Planning Commission changed that from cash escrow to a performance fund, and I was wondering if someone, if you could speak to that, please?”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:10:53
“Okay. The second question I have is the staff report says the request includes no design changes, and the developer's report does not say the same thing. Can you speak to that?”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:12:00
“Yeah, that's clear. And my last question is, this is in a TAD zone. The developers not requested any funding, but they have the right to. They can. Do we anticipate that down the line to supplement their costs? I mean, they would know. You can come to the front. Thank you. Thank you.”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 3:12:21
“Thank you. In September 2025 and in August 2024, the AJC reported that Athens Habitat for Humanity and Future Foundations respectively was constructing 160 square feet tiny homes. They envisioned using the units to address the homelessness crisis in Athens, Georgia, but the current minimum dwelling has prevented the concept from moving forward. I'm not saying at all that Habitat caused this amendment, but it is sufficiently connected and it's worth me asking Was this amendment requested by Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, Future Foundations, a developer, or other specific applicant?”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 3:13:28
“Thank you. Number two, for more than 15 years, residents have flooded this room and begged for tiny homes for the ordinance to be updated. I've sat in small conference rooms with leadership and comments like, we'd never do that. We don't want that here. We don't want those communities. I find this interesting because those individuals are no longer coming to the meetings and they told us we're going to have to move. We can't afford to stay here. We need to be able to afford where we live and I'm comfortable in a tiny home. That option was never afforded to the scores of residents that came…”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 3:24:17
“I was just reading the minutes from the March 3rd, 2026 meeting where the resolution states the Adams Park County Get Committee identified six areas for modification. Is that what you were speaking about? Yes, yes. It says of local ordinances that could that could enhance the availability and affordability of housing, which included allowances of accessory dwelling units, greater use of single family attached units, smaller and less expensive homes, such as manufactured dwellings, reduction or elimination of minimum and street frontage requirements, smaller lot and home sizes, and reduction…”
Commission · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 40:51
“Yes, I would like to also comment that I'm not planning to vote for this for several reasons. The first one is when you first introduced it to us at the retreat in Gainesville, there were no questions. You did a great presentation. No commissioners asked questions. I don't recall any conversation about it since. And I get town halls. I get newsletters. But let's ruminate here over how close the T-splice almost did not pass. We are losing confidence. It's more than we have between now and November to educate folks. This is a transparency issue. This is a communication issue, at the very least.…”
Commission · Jun 9, 2026