BALDWIN, Ga. — Former Baldwin City Councilwoman Alice Venter says she does not support the proposed annexation tied to Cook Construction’s planned development as it stands, warning that the project could strain city infrastructure and outpace the experience level of the current council.
Venter shared her views during an interview with Now Habersham at the Cook Construction public listening session Tuesday evening, where residents heard details about the large-scale development proposed along the Ga. 365 corridor.
“Right now, no,” Venter said when asked directly whether she supports the annexation in its current form. “I think it’s the city biting off more than it can chew.”
Venter said Baldwin already has hundreds of acres along Ga. 365 that have been annexed and offer development potential without expanding the city limits further.
“There are hundreds of acres that have already been annexed and present real opportunity,” she said. “I feel like that needs to be fully explored before the city takes on something of this scale.”
Venter, who was a vocal opponent of Cornelia’s earlier attempt to annex the same property, said her concerns now are rooted less in the concept of development and more in governance, infrastructure and public trust.
She acknowledged that Cook’s proposal aligns with Baldwin’s comprehensive plan, which was approved last year, but said that compliance alone does not resolve underlying capacity issues.
“You can have a comprehensive plan, but my biggest issue is the infrastructure,” Venter said. “While there may be capacity on paper, the challenge is the condition of the infrastructure itself.”
Venter pointed specifically to Baldwin’s sewer system, noting that city engineers have previously identified significant inflow and infiltration — commonly referred to as I&I — caused by aging and deteriorating pipes.
“When we have heavy rain events, the sewer system becomes overwhelmed, and we’ve seen that happen multiple times,” she said.
She also raised concerns about long-term water supply, saying that while some capacity exists, expanding it will require time and significant financial investment.
“If a development of this size is being proposed, I believe the developer should be a partner with the city,” Venter said. “That’s why I do like the tax allocation district aspect of it. It puts the burden of those costs on the area being developed, rather than on residents who have already lived here and paid their share.”
Venter said another factor weighing into her opposition is the relative inexperience of the current Baldwin City Council.
“With the exception of Joe Elam, the council is very new, and I say that from experience,” she said. “Those first couple of years, you don’t know what you don’t know, and you make mistakes. I did. We all do.”
She said the learning curve is compounded by the fact that the mayor and one council member have not completed state-mandated Georgia Municipal Association training.
“They give you a handbook — a list of do’s and don’ts — and it matters,” Venter said. “You don’t have your sea legs yet, and that’s when you need to be especially cautious about decisions that could have long-term consequences.”
While opposing the annexation as proposed, Venter said she supports public input and transparency around the project. She praised Cook Construction for holding a listening session but questioned the timing of the outreach.
Venter said the public meeting should have taken place before the council placed the annexation and rezoning request on its agenda for a first reading at its Jan. 20 meeting, arguing that earlier engagement would have better informed both residents and council members.
“I’m glad they’re giving the information that’s definitely needed,” she said.
The Baldwin City Council has not taken any action on the proposed annexation and rezoning. Additional public meetings and future votes are expected as the process continues.
