Commissioners Unanimous - They Have Heard The Voices of Voters!

Great news from Friday's Marietta Daily Journal! Thank you, Commissioners!

Cobb board unanimous in backing park bond
By Amanda Williams

Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer

MARIETTA - Cobb's five county commissioners each say they'll vote July 11 to put a question on the November election ballot to ask voters to approve $40 million in bonds to buy land for future parks in Cobb.

The commissioners told the Marietta Daily Journal in a phone poll Thursday that they plan to vote yes to put the question to voters on the ballot. That means voters will be asked if the county should issue the general obligation bonds to buy land without raising taxes.

"I have yet to receive a negative e-mail about it," Commission Chairman Sam Olens said Thursday. "The public has soundly supported the proposal."

More than 85 residents packed the commissioners' hearing room Tuesday to voice support to preserve parkland during a public hearing about it.

Commissioner Joe Lee Thompson, whose district includes southeast Cobb, said enthusiasm at the hearing convinced him to vote yes in two weeks to put it on the ballot.

"If the people want it and the enthusiasm is there, I'll support it," Thompson said. "But I wanted to know that it had plenty of community support and that was why we had the public hearing."

Commissioners Helen Goreham, Tim Lee and Annette Kesting also said they intend to cast a yes vote for the bond question.

It would be the first time in six years Cobb residents have been asked to vote on a plan to acquire land for public parks.

In November 2000, Cobb County voters rejected a 1-cent Special Purpose Local Options Sales Tax that would have generated $145 million over a 15-month period for parks and sidewalk improvements, purchase of greenspace and new construction of recreational facilities. The county had planned to spend $45 million of the money on land acquisition, $25 million for new facilities, and $23 million on sidewalks. The SPLOST failed with 53 percent of voters opposing.

Olens said land prices in Cobb vary widely depending on location. In most parts, land sells for between $100,000 and $150,000 an acre; in east Cobb the price tag on an acre of land is as much as $300,000; and in other parts of the county it's as low as $60,000 an acre.

"Forty-million won't solve the county's problem for parkland, but it would be a positive step in the right direction," Olens said. "It will make a big difference."

Olens said if the bond passes, Cobb hopes to get some financial help from organizations like the Raleigh, N.C.-based Trust for Public Land.

Cobb would not necessarily rely on just the $40 million to acquire parkland either, Olens said.
"I would not rule out that we would use general funds to help out the $40 million, I would not rule out using surplus (from future budgets)," Olens said. "This is a work in progress."

Olens said officials also hope to get some good deals on land because property owners would receive a tax break if they sell to the county.

He said Cobb does not have a list of properties it would try to acquire if the parks bond passes, but there are some places the county would consider, including the Trick property, pocket parks in places like Vinings, and areas around Cobb's historical shoupades, which are unique Civil War-era forts designed for the Johnston's River Line.

Olens also said the county needs to buy a large tract in west Cobb.

When the Cobb Parks Coalition formed in May to push for green space preservation, several west Cobb residents already had an eye on the 112-acre Bullard Farm on Dallas Highway between Old Hamilton and Bob Fleming roads.

A Florida-based developer and owners of the Bullard property are suing Cobb County over the commission's Feb. 22 decision to reject the Goodman Co.'s plan to develop the land.
The Goodman Co. wanted to build "Whisper of the River," a mix of residential housing, restaurants and retail on the Bullard Farm.

Paul Paulson, organizer of the Cobb Parks Coalition who lives on Casteel Road in west Cobb not far from the Bullard Farm, said he and other west Cobb residents still hope to save the Bullard property with the parks bond.

"A lot of people feel that way, it's the absolute perfect place for a park," Paulson said.
West Cobb resident Jim Dugan, who lives about three miles from the Bullard Farm, agreed the location of the property makes it ideal for a park.

"It's large enough to accommodate lots of different interests," Dugan said. "It could be lots of things for lots of people. There needs to be open spaces where kids can run around."

When asked how the Bullard property plays into the parks proposal, Olens said it still is in litigation.

"We're not going to condemn property for the parks bond, it requires willing sellers," Olens said. "If the bond vote is successful in November, we will overtly require that the public come forward with suggestions (on what properties to buy)."

Olens said at least one property owner in west Cobb has expressed interest in selling his family's property along Macland Road to the county for parks, if the bond passes in November.

According to the county's 2005 comprehensive plan, Cobb's total land area is 217,741 acres. In 2000, the county adopted the Cobb Greenspace Program that strives to permanently protect 20 percent of Cobb's total land for greenspace. So far, Cobb has 5,001 acres of parkland including 1,297 acres that are developed and 3,704 acres that are undeveloped.

Olens expects if the parks bond passes, that new parkland would be predominately passive greenspace. But each property the county acquires would be developed on an individual basis, he said.

awilliams@mdjonline.com
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