Need exists for follow-up parks bond

A letter to the editor by Keli Gambrill, published in the Marietta Daily Journal on Sunday (and Monday), July 13, 2008

I was your typical west Cobb resident. I enjoyed the area. Then one day a yellow zoning sign appeared behind my home.

My home is located on a half-acre parcel (20,000 square feet) surrounded by property we thought would be developed in a similar manner. However, the application was for Residential Senior Living with homes spaced 10 feet apart on approximately 7,000 square foot lots.

How can this happen? I then became involved with an organization named People Looking After Neighborhoods (PLAN). Through the help of PLAN, we were able to present our concerns regarding density, storm water runoff and lack of green space. While the board of commissioners approved the zoning at a lower density, with enormous storm water detention ponds, very little green space remained for the residents.

In 2006 the voters of Cobb County approved a bond referendum for $40 million for the purchase of parks and green space. West Cobb will benefit greatly from the acquisition of the 18 acres off of Stilesboro Road and the 112-acre Bullard Property at the corner of Dallas Highway and Old Hamilton Road.

While quality of life will be enhanced throughout Cobb County with parks and green space that has been purchased for the residents through the 2006 Bond Referendum, residents of Cobb County need to remind the Board of Commissioners (Chairman Sam Olens, Helen Goreham, Tim Lee, Annette Kesting and Joe Lee Thompson) to place this same emphasis and enthusiasm on preserving green space and the character of an area when reviewing future zoning applications and development initiatives.

Preserving the little remaining suburban character of Cobb is critical and can be achieved through proper development and in the acquisition of additional passive parklands. The voters proved in 2006 that parks and green space were desirable and we are ready to support it once again in 2008.

Keli Gambrill
Marietta