Guest Column: Rockdale County -- Rural Livestyles in the Metro Area

Originally published in the Jan. 22, 2014, issue

 

Sanders

Imagine looking out your windows every morning to see your horses lazily grazing in your own pastures. Imagine your own hobby farm nestled in a community of like-minded farmers. Imagine picking your own blueberries and fruit for breakfast or gathering fresh eggs from your own small flock of poultry. Think how good your own homegrown vegetables will taste. Now, imagine any or all of this readily available a short 30- to 40-minute drive from downtown Atlanta or Stone Mountain. Close enough to commute to work.

 

Seem impossible? There’s more. Land. Prices are still affordable. Taxes don’t cripple. There are numerous move-in ready farmettes from three acres up, or purchase raw tracts of land and carve out your dream.

 

A 19-square mile Watershed Protection area in the northern part of the county guarantees excellent water quality. Ordinances mandate a home in the Watershed Protection must have at least three acres. No subdivisions with homes so close you can touch your neighbor’s house from your own window.

 

Rockdale County provides all of this and more. Zoning in the Watershed Protection area is designed to encourage rural life. In fact, the county is actively seeking well-managed farm and livestock operations. New Watershed Protection zoning allows two adult hooved animals per three acres. It also requires fencing to keep livestock 150 feet from all state waterways to keep the water quality high. Apart from the Watershed Protection, much of the county is still designated as agricultural. 

 

But there’s more. For horse owners, Rockdale County is an easy drive to at least 10 of Georgia’s most popular horse trails. And remember the Georgia International Horse Park, site of the 1996 Centennial Olympic horse events?  This world-class facility is still home to many of the region’s largest horse shows of all disciplines. It also provides 15 miles of possible trail riding on the park’s well maintained horse and mountain bike trails. Should you desire to board your horse, opportunities abound at some of the county’s 16 licensed stables, training barns and horse camps. 

 

In and near Rockdale County are numerous sources for high quality hay. Feed stores dot the county and surrounding areas, providing lots of choice and variety. Highly qualified large and small animal veterinarians call Rockdale County home. Too, the University of Georgia’s large animal clinic is an easy one-hour drive away.

 

For those with spouses or family that would rather golf or fish, the county offers golf courses and a stocked 700-acre reservoir. There are also numerous for-profit private lakes and many tracts of land for sale with existing lakes or lake sites. 

 

This small county, just a straight shot out I-20 east of Atlanta, sees much less traffic and congestion than its metro neighbors and is only a 45-minute drive to the Atlanta airport.

 

Qualified realtors familiar with the county can readily assist you in finding just the spot to make your imaginations a reality. You can be slicing your own delicious home-grown tomatoes by early June. Come check us out.

 

Gerald Sanders is chief of staff of the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners.