Referendum Results Demand Cancellation of Port Expansion, County Appeals to Courts to Continue Development

Camden Spaceport's fate is once again on the rocks, after a referendum "overwhelmingly" rejected the planned development earlier this week. 

The referendum posed a question to voters: "Shall the resolutions of the Board Commissioners of Camden County, Georgia authorize the Option Contract with Union Carbide Corporation and Camden County’s right and option to purchase the property described therein be repealed."

More than 5,500 voters turned out, an impressive measure for a small, local election. The results were overwhelmingly negative towards the spaceport, over 72% in favor of canceling the contract to acquire land that would become a rocket launch pad. Reasons to oppose the development of the spaceport range from safety concerns about failed launches traveling overhead to the retention of the nice, tourist-friendly atmosphere cultivated in the area. 

Some locals have eyed the county's excitement at the prospect of new, exciting, space-age job opportunities with little enthusiasm. The county, of course, is rightfully excited about additional tax income, but having seen the bay-area atmosphere that takes hold wherever tech workers arrive in droves, locals don't see much in it for them. Camden County will not take the issue passively, however, vowing to fight it out in courts and follow through with the spaceport. 

The spaceport has been in development for the better part of a decade, costing more than $10 million, say officials. They filed an emergency appeal to the Georgia courts, asking a judge to block certification of the election results until another court decides if the election was even legal in the first place. They hold that the state constitution doesn't allow voters to block lawmakers by using the referendum process, rendering the vote worthless. How far they get in court will remain to be seen, but so far nothing has broken the county's stride. 

FMI: www.spaceportcamden.us