Regarding the Meetings in Guyton....

Dear Editor,

I would like to thank the citizens of Guyton for coming to the Town Hall meeting at Guyton Elementary School on February 1st, with special thanks to Mayor Garvin for responding to my request for a public forum and to Dr. Goldwire for acting as facilitator.

It is my belief that community involvement in the design process insures a better outcome.  The recent discussion of historic Guyton’s future has served as a wakeup call to galvanize your city leaders into establishing design guidelines for development.    Along with those guidelines, they would be well served to create a master plan for Smart Growth initiatives and a comprehensive plan to include height, mass and zoning issues.  I said this at the Town Hall meeting and want to reiterate it in the newspaper, which surely has a much wider audience. 

In 1999, the Brazeale’s property was rezoned highway-commercial.  That was 7 years ago.  As the Effingham population has grown, developers have been scouting sites like this one to be ready to meet the future needs of the community.  A real estate agent brought this property to my attention mentioning that it sits at the busiest intersection in that part of Effingham County.  A grocery store with gas pumps and a real estate office are at the intersection already.  If a Master Plan were developed, this site would certainly be zoned commercial because of its very nature.  I would like the community to understand that if Greg Parker does not buy and build on this site someone else will come in right behind me to do so, who is likely to not be as sensitive to the needs of the community as I have been.

From the first moment I saw the site I planned an adaptive reuse of the house, to turn it into an old-style market concept.  I never considered tearing the house down as one person has repeatedly suggested.  We will offer quality products at fair prices in a safe, clean and inviting environment.  We will respect our neighbors.  I am aware of the local laws that govern hours of operation:  the store will be open from 5:00 am until 10:00 pm.  Far from being an eyesore, our facility will be landscaped and maintained to reflect the personality of the neighborhood. 

It is regrettable that I have had to go to such great lengths to dispel rumors circulated by a single individual.  While I admire passion for a cause, I do not approve of the methods used or the utter disregard for the truth in pursuit of an unspoken personal agenda.  Small town values speak to honor, integrity and trust.  We have tried to conduct business in an honest and open way so that the residents of Guyton will come to know us and embrace us as a real part of the community.

Five members of the Parker family management team live in Guyton and believe that we need to be a presence there.  We accept the challenges placed before us and intend to exceed the community’s expectations.  When Parker’s Market opens in Guyton we invite everyone, especially the naysayers, to visit with us.  We want the right to earn your business.  Judge us by what we do, not the lies that have been told about us. 

Greg Parker, President

The Parker Companies