Historic land spurs interest for new park

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Thursday, December 21, 2006, by MDJ staff writer Amanda Casciaro

EAST COBB - An $1.8 million parcel in east Cobb that recently landed on the market has sparked the attention of county commissioners, including one who says the historic property could be a welcome addition to the Cobb park system.

Commissioner Tim Lee, who represents northeast Cobb, said 4.2 acres off Sewell Mill Road near East Cobb Park now up for sale by Bob and Dale Mehlhouse has been added to a long list for the parks citizens committee members to consider when expending a $40 million bond next year.

The property, which was put on the market for the last time this summer, contains some remains of the historic Sewell Mill, a corn and sawmill built in the 1840s.
Mrs. Mehlhouse "approached Bob Ash, (director of Cobb County Public Services), and he came and talked to me about the property," Lee said. "Bob and I went out and looked at it, and it's a beautiful piece of property she wants to sell to the county."
The couple, who have lived on the property for more than nine years, live in a two-story home among the mill remnants.

They decided to sell when a degenerative muscle disease Bob Mehlhouse suffers from progressed, making stairs difficult to ascend.

Despite their desire to sell, finding the perfect buyer is more important, Mrs. Mehlhouse said.

"We had it put on the historic register," she said. "When we moved here nothing had been done as far as preserving it, and that was one of my husband's goals, to make sure we did our part to try and protect the property."

It's a mission they want to continue, even after they move.

"We've had a lot of interest, but obviously, we're trying to get the right person," Mrs. Mehlhouse said. "It takes a little more work than if it was just a piece of property you didn't care anything about."

Jimmy Gisi, director for the Cobb Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, said he is keeping a running list of nominated properties for the parks committee to consider.

Although about 20 tracts have been identified, "we don't intend to share the list," Gisi said.

"The nominated properties are for preliminary consideration and we have not yet verified that they are from willing sellers. Also, these properties need to be presented to the citizens committee in advance of any public release," he said.

The 4.2-acre tract on Sewell Mill Road, just off Old Canton Road, is it's own wooded hideaway.

Apart from being beautiful, it could provide connectivity with East Cobb Park through another piece of county property nearby, Lee said.

The 15-member citizens advisory committee, appointed by commissioners last month, will meet beginning in January.

Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens has said the first tracts of land, which the county hopes to distribute evenly throughout Cobb, probably will be purchased in March or April.

acasciaro@mdjonline.com

Op ed: Cobb voters chose right on parks bond

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Tuesday, December 12, 2006, by Marietta High School graduate Natalie Webb, a public relations major at the University of Georgia.

Two short decades ago the toddler-version of myself squealed with delight as I chased baby ducks out of Laurel Park's pond and swung blissfully on the swings of the playground. From end-of-the-year school parties to the fun-filled summer day camps of Laurel Leprechauns, I grew up spending every ounce of my playtime in the parks of my beloved Marietta community.

This childhood of mine revolved around nature's handiwork that has been consumed by development over the years. Now, as the glimpses of green space continually dwindle in the Cobb area, residents realize the increasing necessity of acquiring more parkland.

The University of Georgia's Department of Ecology's Natural Resources Spatial Analysis Laboratory reports that 7 acres of untouched landscape fall to the bulldozer's blade every day. That is an annual depletion of 2,400 acres of Cobb land. Paul Paulson, the head of Cobb Parks Coalition, says, "As the available land gets scarcer, the prices get scarier."

Fortunately our community voted to preserve the green that has not been yet conquered in the name of growth and passed the $40 million referendum on Nov. 7. Not only will the dog-walkers and Frisbee-players of our community benefit from the recent land acquisition, but homeowners will gain higher property values as well.

According to the Economics Resource Associates, neighborhood parks can appreciate housing values for those homes facing the park by 20 percent. Community parks would augment residential real estate value by 33 percent. Just look at the cost of lots in Anderson Farm and Parkside at Old Mountain adjacent to Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park. This property value increase, combined with the fact that no excess taxes are paid by Cobb citizens, clearly reveals the economic benefits of our voters' decision.

Now the question is where the new parks will be established. The recently appointed panel is working to choose the most advantageous locations. In order to show the public quick results from the referendum, this 15-person group may try to get the ball rolling with a smaller parcel of Civil War-related land in south Cobb. They also hope to create "pocket parks" in largely developed areas such Vinings.

No matter where the parks surface, I am elated to know that Cobb County voters made the right decision by preserving the remaining greenery and allowing our children to have a place to go fly a kite and chase the ducks.

Future looking bright for park preservation in Cobb

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, by MDJ columnist Don McKee

The push to preserve more parkland in Cobb County is part of a highly successful nationwide effort that bodes well for the future.

A report last week by the Land Trust Alliance showed that land held by state and local trusts doubled from 6 million acres to almost 12 million acres in the five years from 2000 to 2005.

Adding the land preserved by national conservation groups raises to 37 million acres the total now under protective trusts and easements - a whopping 54 percent increase over the 24 million acres set aside in 2000. The alliance pointed out the land now preserved is 16½ times the size of Yellowstone National Park.

"Little known just two decades ago, land trusts are now one of the fastest-growing and most successful conservation movements in American history," the alliance said.

That good news gets even better when you consider the conservation of private land averages 2.6 million acres a year, exceeding the estimated 2.2 million plus acres being developed, according to the Agriculture Department.

Credit goes to the growing number of local volunteer groups, says Rand Wentworth, president of the Land Trust Alliance. It is these groups - of which the Cobb Parks Coalition is a prime example - that drive the conservation efforts across the country.

The number of state and local land trusts increased 32 percent to 1,667 over the past five years. Georgia beat the average with a 41 percent increase as the numbers of trusts grew from 17 to 24. That tied Georgia with South Carolina for third place in trusts in the Southeast behind the leader, Florida, with 36, and North Carolina, second with 32.

The fastest-growing trend is conservation easements that landowners grant in exchange for tax incentives. In 2005 such voluntary agreements resulted in conserving 6.2 million acres versus 2.5 million acres in 2000.

On the heels of the good news from the Land Trust Alliance, Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia announced grants and loans totaling $1.5 million for four counties and a city under the state Land Conservation Act passed last year to encourage conservation and protection of natural, cultural and historic resources.

The projects include a 190-acre conservation easement "to help preserve the rapidly disappearing agricultural heritage of Oconee County" with a $467,000 grant. There's a $66,000 grant for Bartow County to obtain a conservation easement for 100 acres of farmland and stream buffers along Sugar Hill Creek. DeKalb County received $75,000 for acquisition of 140 acres of flood plain and wetlands along the South River.

Georgia also has the benefit of the land conservation tax credit law passed in 2006 to provide new incentive for private landowners to help preserve our state's beautiful natural resources, wildlife habitats, cultural and historic sites.

Donors of conservation easements are allowed a state income tax credit of 25 percent of the fair market value of the property up to a maximum $250,000 per individual and $500,000 per corporation.

Bottom line: conservation really is gaining ground.

dmckee9613@aol.com

Future looking bright for park preservation in Cobb

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, by MDJ columnist Don McKee

The push to preserve more parkland in Cobb County is part of a highly successful nationwide effort that bodes well for the future.

A report last week by the Land Trust Alliance showed that land held by state and local trusts doubled from 6 million acres to almost 12 million acres in the five years from 2000 to 2005.

Adding the land preserved by national conservation groups raises to 37 million acres the total now under protective trusts and easements - a whopping 54 percent increase over the 24 million acres set aside in 2000. The alliance pointed out the land now preserved is 16½ times the size of Yellowstone National Park.

"Little known just two decades ago, land trusts are now one of the fastest-growing and most successful conservation movements in American history," the alliance said.

That good news gets even better when you consider the conservation of private land averages 2.6 million acres a year, exceeding the estimated 2.2 million plus acres being developed, according to the Agriculture Department.

Credit goes to the growing number of local volunteer groups, says Rand Wentworth, president of the Land Trust Alliance. It is these groups - of which the Cobb Parks Coalition is a prime example - that drive the conservation efforts across the country.

The number of state and local land trusts increased 32 percent to 1,667 over the past five years. Georgia beat the average with a 41 percent increase as the numbers of trusts grew from 17 to 24. That tied Georgia with South Carolina for third place in trusts in the Southeast behind the leader, Florida, with 36, and North Carolina, second with 32.

The fastest-growing trend is conservation easements that landowners grant in exchange for tax incentives. In 2005 such voluntary agreements resulted in conserving 6.2 million acres versus 2.5 million acres in 2000.

On the heels of the good news from the Land Trust Alliance, Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia announced grants and loans totaling $1.5 million for four counties and a city under the state Land Conservation Act passed last year to encourage conservation and protection of natural, cultural and historic resources.

The projects include a 190-acre conservation easement "to help preserve the rapidly disappearing agricultural heritage of Oconee County" with a $467,000 grant. There's a $66,000 grant for Bartow County to obtain a conservation easement for 100 acres of farmland and stream buffers along Sugar Hill Creek. DeKalb County received $75,000 for acquisition of 140 acres of flood plain and wetlands along the South River.

Georgia also has the benefit of the land conservation tax credit law passed in 2006 to provide new incentive for private landowners to help preserve our state's beautiful natural resources, wildlife habitats, cultural and historic sites.

Donors of conservation easements are allowed a state income tax credit of 25 percent of the fair market value of the property up to a maximum $250,000 per individual and $500,000 per corporation.

Bottom line: conservation really is gaining ground.

dmckee9613@aol.com