Friendship Rd. residents ask commissioners to rescind vote on road name change

GAINESVILLE - A group of citizens from Hall County made an emotional plea to Hall County commissioners at Monday afternoon's work session to rescind a vote that changes the name of a portion of Ga. Highway 347 from Friendship Road to Lanier Islands Parkway.

Commissioners approved the name change two years ago for a section of the roadway extending from east of I-985 to Highway 211.

District 1 Commissioner Kathy Cooper, who is serving her first term on the Board of Commissioners, said citizens approached her about rescinding the vote right after her election.

"They approached me and shared their concerns with me and their hearts with me," said Cooper. "It was a new chance to do something that they have wanted to have done for all this time."

Some of the same residents who opposed the name change when the original vote took place stood before commissioners again Monday, asking them to reverse a decision unpopular with south Hall residents. Pam Puckett reminded the commission that 1,357 Friendship Road residents had signed a petition opposing the renaming.

"During the 2013 public hearings, community members and other supporters presented reasons and rebuttals as to why Friendship Road should not be changed to Lanier Island (sic) Parkway. Those reasons and rebuttals have not changed over time," said Puckett.

Puckett told commissioners Friendship Road residents aren't opposed to growth and progress, but they still want to hold on to the heritage of the road's name.

Others who spoke accused the commission of ignoring the wishes of hundreds to bow to the request of the owner of Lake Lanier Islands, who supported the name change of the road.

"I'm here when I should be working," said Bill Frazier of Frazier Harley-Davidson. "But I'm standing here because this is important to me, it's important to the people of Friendship Road...it doesn't matter what a person who's not even here thinks about it. I know...there's a lot of taxes paid [by Lanier Islands] - I've paid a lot of taxes, too. I just ask you to do the right thing."

Cooper said she had been hoping to have the matter of the road name resolved by the time the new Northeast Georgia Medical Center/Braselton opens. The opening date, however, is April 1, just days away.

Still, Cooper is thinking positive.

"I have faith in the system. I hope that we are able to do the right thing for our people."