Dearest Neighbor of the Northwest Rydal/Pine Log Community,

 My name is Jesselyn Ozmore of Nally Road and am writing to you concerning one of my closest friends, Becky Giolitti of Long Rd. She is one of the most amazing, kind-hearted, compassionate, and giving people I have ever met! She is welcoming of anyone of any background, with absolutely no judgement. Becky is truly the epitome of acceptance and love of and for others. I strive to be more like her daily.

 That being said, there are people who have an issue with Becky, or rather, I suppose, with her Poultry Enclosure.

 Becky is a solo woman, owning her own property, working hard to pay her bills and taxes, and buying food for herself and her mixed flock. At the end of the day, that leaves very little expendable income at her disposal. Like many of us, she lives a meager lifestyle. She tends to spend her evenings caring for and spending time with her flock, cleaning the enclosure while they spend time in the fenced area of her yard to graze. Her birds are better cared for than most. Heck, if I were a chicken, duck, or turkey, I’d want to live at Becky’s, even if I were to become Christmas dinner! And when she has an excess of eggs, she donates them to church food pantries to do a small part to help others as she can.

 Alas, as I said before, there are people(s) that want to disturb that peaceful life she has built for herself. It had recently been brought to Becky’s attention that her Aviary was in violation of Bartow County Zoning codes. She originally built the structures inside the fencing on the property line, not realizing that there were restrictions on where a Poultry enclosure was allowed to be. As the neighboring property was vacant at the time, she was not made aware of any violations.

 However, when she was made aware of the Zoning codes for the enclosure, she did the proper thing and went to zoning to receive instruction on what she needed to do based on the topography and level space available on her property. Once the Zoning Administrator had conducted a mapped arial evaluation of the property, Becky was given planning arrangements that were able to be compromising to both Becky and Zoning without being egregiously off “standard” zoning codes. There must be compromises for individual properties since they are all varying in layout and terrain.

 She complied and that night started the demolition and rebuilding planning of the enclosure. She worked tirelessly, sometimes with help, but most days without any, for 2 months straight to meet the required deadline set by the County. She would work well after dark, even though she had already worked a 10–12-hour shift. Things also started failing mechanically in her house as well.

 Remember the part about expendable income? Umm…that is in short supply for Becky. The enclosure took money, more than she truly had to spend. Add on the hot water heater, and, well, you may have some personal experience with similar situations and the feelings you may have felt at that time.

 But SHE DID IT!!! She got the enclosure finished, as agreed upon, and in the time frame she was given. And it is even better: a larger, HAND-DUG pond for the ducks, a bit more space for everyone, and a humongous sense of achievement for one proud woman!

 Until now. Someone has gone “above” the Bartow County Zoning Administrator, and has filed a formal complaint regarding her structure. This has seemingly broken the agreement between Zoning and Becky. This means that unless she wins a legal variance, she will be again forced to move or be rid of her poultry enclosure due to lack of financial ability. The new proposed site from the Sheriff Deputy that came to her house is not feasible due to the water run-off from the ridge behind the house, that is already problematic due to the steep incline and ravine directly behind her house, would wash out the enclosure, potentially causing future structural damage and potential health risk to her house.

 You may be thinking, if you are still reading this 😉, why go through all this just for some birds? Well, they are not just some birds. Not only are they loved creatures of Becky’s, but the situation also itself is worth the fight. Becky has done everything right, just to be told “Oops, never mind!” And Zoning is allowing itself to be dictated by the complainter(s) on how Becky should raise her chickens.

 Are we not still a very rural area and wish to keep it as such? Don’t we all just want to live a peaceful life, where, if you are not a true disruptive nuisance, you can raise your ducks, chickens, turkey, peacocks, emus, whatever, without worrying about someone telling you that you can’t have them just because they don’t look aesthetically pleasing to that person?

Simple, peaceful, kind neighborhoods are what we here in the Northwest Rydal/Pine Log area strive for. It is what we have had for generations, at least until now. If someone would do this to the kindest of hearted Becky Giolitti, then they will definitely do it to someone else, possibly you, next.

    If you feel as I do, that Becky is being unjustly targeted and essentially bullied, I implore you to attend the variance meeting on Wednesday, November 20th at 4pm at the Bartow County Courthouse. If you are unable to make it but want to show support, please write a letter or email to the Bartow County Zoning Administration (Osborner@bartowcountyga.gov) so they can be presented at her hearing!