"The purpose of the AR district is to maintain an area of rural use within Athens-Clarke County, to stabilize and protect single family characteristics of the district, and to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life." From Athens-Clarke County's Development Regulations Ordinance, section 9-5-1.

Even the developer contingent seemed to be onboard. Brian Kemp, past president of the Athens Area Home Builders Association and land use plan steering committee member, called TDRs "a great idea."
"I think you all know what the landscape of the open market looks like," said Jonlyn Freeman. "You've all driven through Gwinnett County."
The majority of speakers favored postponing a change in AR densities, but not everyone agreed.
Marilyn Rose said the county has no right to impose restrictions on her property and suggested turning the tables on those who thought so by requiring that all Athenians donate a percentage of their land to a trust.
Tony Powell, representing a land investment firm called Southeastern Land Partners, said that Option A was the only acceptable choice, and that even voting on density options is barred by both the federal and state constitutions.
Restricting cheap suburban housing is discriminatory, according to Mary King, who said that she "can't pay a tax on green space" for people on bicycles.
"We need cars," King said.
Frank Fleming, who has purchased 1,500 acres of rural land on speculation, said Athens-Clarke already has a greenbelt - consisting of the counties that surround it.
Before the decision on AR densities - a separate vote from the bulk of the development ordinance - Mayor Eldridge asked the Commission to vote on whether or not to maintain present AR zoning pending adoption of TDRs, which he expects to be able to do by May of next year.
"A and B have good features, I grant you," Eldridge said. "Both... have problems that leave a lot to be desired. If you agree that it [present AR zoning] has served us well, don't change it right now."
Ken Jordan then made a motion to vote on Eldridge's proposal; Tom Chasteen seconded. But Cardee Kilpatrick would have none of it.
"We have studied and discussed this issue," she said. Kilpatrick said it would be inappropriate to maintain current AR zoning without a hearing - though the Commission had just received well over an hour of citizen input, much of it in support of Eldridge's proposal, and though neither Options A nor B had ever been formally presented to the public.
Kilpatrick made a substitute motion to vote on Option B, but it died for lack of a second.
Linda Ford made her pitch for Option A, saying it "encourages preservation of green space," and will bring the kind of development the community wants. Ford made a substitute motion to adopt her plan; Harry Sims seconded.
Sims said that adopting Option A would show respect for citizens' stewardship of the land. Sims also warned that TDRs without hearings would remove the public and the government from the development process.
Commissioner John Barrow said that Option A would have the opposite effect of what Ford claims it will do, will make it more difficult to implement TDRs and is "simply out of touch" with community objectives.
"Option A speeds up the suburbanization of our county," Barrow said.
Marilyn Farmer, about to cast her last votes as a Commissioner after being voted out of office in favor of anti-sprawl challenger Carl Jordan, called Ford's plan "right on target."
"There's no threat of a lot of sprawl," Farmer said.
"I'm going to make one last push," said Mayor Eldridge, who again appealed to the Commission to reject Option A.
Clerk of Commission Jean Spratlin called the roll on Option A. By the time she reached the last name on the list - Kilpatrick's - the vote was five "yes," four "no."
"Yes," said Kilpatrick.
Some in the crowd gasped; two or three others clapped.
"Shame on you!" yelled a man from the back of the chamber.
As citizens filed out, Commissioner Barrow made a motion to adjourn the meeting - before a vote on the remainder of the ordinance. Jordan seconded. They were the only two Commissioners to vote for adjournment.
A subsequent motion by Barrow for a 15-minute recess died for lack of a second.
Alvin Sheats then made a motion to deny the ordinance on the grounds that it does not address Athens socioeconomic problems. That motioned died as well.
The ordinance - designed to guide development in Athens-Clarke for the next 20 years - then passed by a vote of 7-3, with Commissioners Barrow, Jordan and Sheats voting against it.
After most of the chamber had cleared, the final public input period of the night brought former ACC Mayor Gwen O'Looney to the podium.
"You have lit a fire," she warned the Commission. "This issue will not go away. These citizens will not rest until they have a community that is unlike Atlanta, that is planned and reaches its highest value."