Benefits of parks bond undeniable

From the Marietta Daily Journal, on Tuesday, October 17, 2006, Letters to the Editor

DEAR EDITOR:

With the upcoming Nov. 7 elections, we have a unique opportunity to vote in favor of a $40 million parks bond issue, without increasing taxes, which benefits all concerned. This initiative will enable Cobb County to properties now for future development.

Apathy, negativity, and procrastination, however, could doom this effort at an enormous cost to all. If we wait longer, appropriate lands will either not be available or become twice as expensive. One only needs to look at the escalating prices per acre of land values in both East and West Cobb. We must act now and vote on Nov. 7.

Each and every resident of Cobb County benefits by having more open green space, preserved forever, to enjoy recreationally and to enhance the value of living and owning property in Cobb. Individual or family property owners that have, or are contemplating, large properties for sale also benefit financially by selling their properties for park purposes, rather than only considering commercial development offers.

This can be accomplished by selling for "preservation/conservation purposes", resulting in significant tax benefits to the seller(s), thereby returning essentially the same after tax compensation for the property as if it were sold at a commercial price per acre. Wouldn't individuals or families, owning significant acreage for sale, find this financially attractive?

If family properties could live on forever, perhaps with park land named for the family, wouldn't this be a viable alternative rather than selling for commercial purposes which would ultimately result, 20 years from now, in another "tired and worn" mall/retail complex?

Additionally, the benefit to Cobb County is undeniable. Cobb has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, but parkland purchases have not kept pace. In order to be attractive for relocation purposes, by either individuals or businesses, Cobb needs to provide these open-space, recreational options, as drafted in the Cobb 2030 Comprehensive Plan Policy Document for the future. We must act now before it's too late.

For the above reasons, there is no reason for elected officials of Cobb County to agree to change, or negotiate away in mediation, large parcels of low-density zoning in favor of higher-density commercial zoning. Potential parklands will disappear forever, unless we protect them now.

Jim Dugan
Powder Springs