The Issue

Let’s Protect Athens’ Forests — Before They’re Gone for Good.

Hey Athens! My name is Macy Fox. My husband and I are local music teachers, parents, and a couple who care deeply about the unique natural beauty of Athens, Georgia. We both have a degree in horticulture from UGA. 

Lately, we’ve watched more and more of our mature forests disappear — clearcut by out-of-state developers who are replacing them with luxury student apartments that don’t reflect the spirit or needs of our community. One of the healthiest local mature hardwood forests I’ve seen is being bulldozed right now, and once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

Athens is a place with soul. Our trees, our wildlife, our green spaces — they’re part of what makes this town feel like home. I believe most people don’t fully realize how quickly this is happening, or how permanent the damage is once the forests are destroyed.

This petition is a call for action: for stronger protections for our remaining forest land and for smarter, more thoughtful growth in Athens. Together, we can make our voices heard and protect the character and ecology of this place we love.

Please read, sign, and share.

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Save Athens' Forests

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Protect Athens Forests — Stop the Clearcutting of Our Native Hardwood Ecosystems.

We, the concerned residents of Athens, Georgia, are calling on our local leaders to take immediate action to stop the unchecked destruction of our mature hardwood forests by out-of-state developers.

Mature forests are irreplaceable assets for our community — providing shade, clean air, flood control, wildlife habitat, and a deep connection to the identity and beauty of Athens. 

One of the clearest examples is the forest at The Preserve Drive — it was a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem with mature white oaks, tulip poplars, beeches, and buckeyes. Trees easily over 100 years old, thriving understory growth, and an intact soil microbiome. This was not degraded land — this was a living forest. 

Part of the forest was clearcut to build The Connection, a luxury student apartment complex. Then came another, The Grand Preserve. The last two parcels are currently being developed for another apartment complex by an out-of-state developer called Ardmore Residential. 

Once these trees are bulldozed, the forest doesn’t grow back.
The soil is compacted. The topsoil is stripped.
Invasive plants and deer prevent native regrowth.
These ecosystems — which took generations to establish — will not return.

We demand:

1️⃣ A moratorium on clearcutting for non-essential development, so the county has time to reassess and strengthen protections.

2️⃣ A revision of the Athens-Clarke County Tree Ordinance that prioritizes the preservation of mature hardwood stands and functioning forest habitats, not just "canopy coverage" which can be met by new plantings.

3️⃣ More opportunities for public input on development decisions that impact our city’s green spaces and ecological future.

These are reasonable, necessary steps. This is about stewardship, not anti-growth. Athens deserves thoughtful development that honors our identity, our ecology, and our future.

Thank you for your time and consideration

Let’s preserve the character, ecology, and future of Athens — before it’s too late.

Macy and Christian Fox
Homewood Hills
Local music teachers and environmental advocates