KEEP OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES RURAL
A Petition to Preserve Existing RA-200 Land and Rural Character
We, the undersigned residents, property owners, and supporters of the Harbins, Ozora, and Bold Springs Rural Communities, call upon the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, Planning Commission, and Planning and Development Department to protect the remaining rural character of eastern Gwinnett County.

THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY DEFINED WHAT “RURAL” MEANS
Gwinnett County's adopted 2045 Unified Plan describes Agricultural/Rural Residential areas as very low-density housing, often with no more than one dwelling per two acres, together with rural and agriculture-based uses.

That is the character we are asking the County to preserve:

Low population. Large-lot estates. Farms. Horses and livestock. Open land. Rural roads. Rural residential living.

We do not believe that maintaining the word “Rural” on a Future Development Map while repeatedly converting existing RA-200 land into suburban subdivision patterns preserves rural character.

OUR REQUEST IS SIMPLE
We ask Gwinnett County to:

Oppose rezoning of existing RA-200 land to other zoning classifications that create suburban-density development patterns within the Harbins, Ozora, and Bold Springs Rural Communities.
Preserve existing RA-200 land as the large-lot, agricultural, estate-residential transition that gives these Rural Communities their character.
Direct substantial residential growth and increased population toward locations identified and designed to accommodate that growth rather than continuing suburban expansion into remaining Rural land.
Create enforceable Rural preservation protections so that Rural means more than a color on a map.
WHY WE ARE ACTING NOW
Eastern Gwinnett is experiencing increasing development pressure. Each rezoning of Rural RA-200 property changes more than one parcel.

One subdivision leads to another.

Large rural tracts become subdivision streets.
Open land becomes concentrated population.
Agricultural and estate uses become increasingly difficult to maintain.
And eventually the Rural Community exists only in name.

Once this development pattern is established, the rural character cannot simply be restored.

Residents have participated in hearings, planning processes, public meetings, and the Harbins-Alcovy Small Area Plan process asking for the same thing:

Protect what remains Rural.
We are asking Gwinnett County to demonstrate through its zoning decisions that those voices matter.

ESCALATION: MUNICIPAL INCORPORATION:

If Gwinnett County is unwilling to provide meaningful and enforceable protection for the Rural character of Harbins, Ozora, and Bold Springs, we support formally exploring all lawful options for willing property owners and communities to pursue incorporation for the purpose of securing long-term protection of our rural land-use character.

OUR MESSAGE
RURAL IS NOT SIMPLY LOW DENSITY.
RURAL IS LOW POPULATION.
We support responsible growth.

We do not support suburban sprawl replacing the remaining rural communities of eastern Gwinnett County.

Keep Harbins Rural.
Keep Ozora Rural.
Keep Bold Springs Rural.

SIGNATURE
Name: __________________________________________

Address / Community: ______________________________

Email (optional): __________________________________

Signature: _______________________________________

I support preserving existing RA-200 land and opposing other rezoning within the Harbins, Ozora, and Bold Springs Rural Communities.