The shape of that bird is wrong for a Cooper's. That bird is a buteo, not an accipiter. It looks like a red-tail to me, but since you say it is not a red-tail, I'm guessing it doesn't have a red tail. There are several variant forms of red-tailed hawks ranging from very dark to very pale, and this one may be one of those unusual forms.

 I hate that you lost your natural area and that it happened so fast with so little warning. Little areas like that are important, especially if they link to other nearby areas.

I met my county commissioner the other day and asked him (Bob Arwood) whether he supported impact fees on new development. I was pleasantly surprised that he knew what impact fees are and favored them. It seems like there is a strong conservation ethic among Blount Republicans, so that as long as groups like the Raven Society can be as vocal as developers and real estate investors, there is hope for sane growth policies.