Editorial: More Parks A good week for greenspace in Cobb

An editorial from the Marietta Daily Journal on Sunday, December 14, 2008

Years spent haggling over the future of one of the last sizeable undeveloped tracts in downtown Kennesaw finally came to a sensible resolution last week that splits the difference, so to speak, between the competing claims of development and preservation.

At issue was a 9.96-acre tract owned by W.E. Hamby off Watts Drive within an easy stroll of downtown Kennesaw and the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. The wooded property includes a stream and, like all the surrounding area, was part of Camp McDonald, a Confederate army "basic training" facility during the Civil War. But no permanent structures remain from those days and there is nothing visible above ground that links the property with the camp. Some felt the Hamby tract should be preserved in its entirety.

Meanwhile, Kennesaw leaders were eying the property for development, as a portion of it fronts Main Street, and were loath to see such a prime candidate fall off the tax rolls.

The upshot came Tuesday when it was announced that a deal had been struck to buy and divide the property. The county will purchase 7.57 acres for $834,000 with money from the $40 million 2006 parks bond and develop it as a park.

The city, meanwhile, will acquire the front 2.39 acres along Main Street for $466,000.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously agreed to deal on Tuesday.

"This is an example of working together with the leaders in Kennesaw," said Cobb Commissioner Helen Goreham, who represents northwest Cobb. "We've found a balance between preservation of green space and allowing development to take place in the heart of downtown Kennesaw."

Added Mayor Mark Mathews, "This is something that the county and city have been able to put together," he said. "It's a win-win situation for everyone."

Historic markers will be erected on the site to tell the story of Camp McDonald, noted Cobb Commission Chairman Sam Olens, another big proponent of the deal.

The arrangement comes hard on the heels of the news that the county has purchased a pair of tracts adjoining the pristine Hyde Farm property in lower east Cobb, which is in the process of being developed into a park.

All in all, it was a good week for greenspace in Cobb.

Editorial: Purchase helps Hyde preservation push

An editorial from the Marietta Daily Journal on Thursday, December 11, 2008

The Hyde Farm overlooking the Chattahoochee River is a pristine slice of Cobb as it was 50, or 100, or 150 years ago - a last island of green space in what now is heavily developed east Cobb.

The farm has been worked continuously from the 1830s. Longtime owner J.C. Hyde plowed its fields with a mule almost up until his death in 2004, and it still includes an original log cabin and various outbuildings and barns.

Hyde sold part of the farm for tax reasons in the 1990s to become part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and after his death the Trust for Public Land announced the purchase of the 95-acre remainder. That portion ultimately is to be divided and sold to the National Park Service and Cobb County. Some $5 million from the 2006 county parks bond approved by voters has been earmarked for that purchase.

The plan all along has been to keep the Hyde Farm as intact as possible and use it as a museum of sorts for school children and the public to give them an idea of what life was like here in decades long past. But the aim of keeping it pristine is in obvious conflict with the necessity of providing parking, restrooms and interpretive/administrative space.

Hence, the county commission's vote on Tuesday to approve the purchase of two adjoining tracts. The first is a 12.9-acre tract (including a two-acre lake) owned by the Dolvin family, purchased for $1.35 million, or about $104,600 per acre. The second is a 4.5-acre tract owned by the Walker family, which the county bought for $900,000, or the $199,000 per acre.

Money for those purchases also came from the $40 million parks bond passed in 2006.

"We didn't want to put any parking associated with the Hyde Farm on (the Hyde Farm) property," explained Commission Chairman Sam Olens of the purchases.

Also on the Dolvin property, in addition to the lake, is a 16,000-square-foot house that can be used as a welcome center for the farm.

In short, the two purchases of adjoining property will do nothing but enhance the experience for the generations of visitors and schoolchildren expected to come to the farm in years to come. The wise use of the parks bond money in this instance is in keeping with the county's careful spending of it thus far, which was a big reason why Cobb voters passed a second $40 million parks bond in November. And such decisions also help lay the groundwork for a third such bond a few years from now, should one be deemed necessary.

County preps for buy

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 by Ashley Hungerford, MDJ staff writer

MARIETTA - Cobb County is close to purchasing a major portion of land in downtown Kennesaw using remaining funds from the county's 2006 parks bond.

The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a letter of intent to purchase 7.57 acres of land off Watts Drive, owned by W.E. Hamby, using $834,000 from the $40 million parks bond.

Cobb Chairman Sam Olens said they're in final negotiations with Hamby, and are looking to purchase the property by the first of the year.

"This has been a good resolution," Olens said.

Bob Ash, public services agency director, said the county has negotiated an agreement with The Kennesaw Development Authority in which the authority will purchase 2.39 acres, and the county will purchase the remainder. The entire property is 9.96 acres, and the entire purchase price is $1.3 million.

"This is an example of working together with the leaders in Kennesaw," Commissioner Helen Goreham said. "We've found a balance between preservation of green space and allowing development to take place in the heart of downtown Kennesaw."

The county's portion, which will be maintained as a park, includes dense woods and a stream, and is located directly behind Kennesaw City Hall.

The city's portion of the property would be off Main Street. Mayor Mark Mathews said the city would use the land for future development.

"This is something that the county and city have been able to put together," he said. "It's a win-win situation for everyone."

Mathews said the City Council has a special called meeting today to discuss an intergovernmental agreement with the KDA, as the authority would be the one ultimately purchasing the city's portion of the property.

The Hamby property was one of the sites recommended by the 2006 Parks Advisory Committee. Advocates have called for the county to preserve the property because of its connection with Camp McDonald, a Civil War troop-training center.

The camp occupied much of the downtown area, and primarily was a tent encampment. No significant structures were ever built, and no major battles were fought in the area.

Olens said the county would place historic markers on the new parkland to discuss the significance of Camp McDonald.

"People hate to see some of the history removed, and now we've protected it," Olens said.

The county's letter of intent concerning the Hamby property includes several stipulations including granting the county the option to buy the Kennesaw portion of the property if the city does not purchase the property.

Buying new parkland was the theme of Tuesday's Commission meeting.

The Board unanimously approved the purchase of two tracts of land adjacent to Hyde Farm in east Cobb. Both purchases used funds from the 2006 parks bond.

The county, along with the National Park Service, are in a partnership to preserve the 95-acre working farm off of Lower Roswell Road near Johnson Ferry Road.

The first property is a 4.52-acre tract, owned by Sarah Fountain Walker, and was purchased for $900,000, or about $199,115 an acre.

The second is a 12.95-acre tract, owned by the Harper L. Dolvin family trust, and was purchased for $1.35 million, or about $104,651 an acre.

The Dolvin property also includes a two-acre lake and a 16,000-square-foot house that the county and National Park Service plan to use as a visitor center and public restrooms for Hyde Farm. The Dolvin's have agreed to make $100,000 of repairs to the dam on the lake, Ash said.

Olens said the county would put about 50 parking spaces, including spaces for buses, on about one acre of the new parkland. He said the National Park Service has asked that the parking be $3 as to be consistent with other nearby National Park Service parking lots. All the money would go directly into Hyde Farm.

The Trust for Public Land announced in June the purchase of the farm for $14.19 million. The property will be sold and divided between Cobb County and the National Park Service.

Olens said he hopes to have a final agreement on the division of the property by the end of the year.

Land purchases top Cobb's agenda

From the Marietta Daily Journal on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 by Ashley Hungerford, MDJ staff writer

MARIETTA - The Board of Commissioners could extend the county's arsenal of parkland today as several new purchases are before the board for consideration.

The Commissioners meet today at 9 a.m. at 100 Cherokee St.

On the list are two parcels adjacent to 95-acre Hyde Farm in east Cobb.

The county, along with the National Park Service, are in a partnership to preserve the working farm off of Lower Roswell Road near Johnson Ferry Road.

The first property before the Commissioners is a 4.52-acre tract owned by the Walker family, and the second is 12.9 acres that includes a two-acre lake owned by the Dolvin family.

Using a portion of the remaining $3 million from the $40 million parks bond approved by voters in 2006, the county is looking to purchase the Walker property for $900,000, or about $199,115 an acre; and the Dolvin property for $1.35 million, or about $104,651 an acre.

Cobb Chairman Sam Olens said the county would like to use the property for parking and staff offices as to not disrupt the preserved Hyde Farm.

"We didn't want to put any parking associated with Hyde Farm on the property," Olens said.

County officials estimate putting about 50 parking spaces, including spaces for buses.

The Dolvin property includes a 16,000-square-foot house that Olens said they would serve as a welcome center with offices for county and park service staff. It would also be a place for the educational programs and restrooms for guests who visit the park.

In June, the Trust for Public Land announced the purchase of the farm for $14.19 million. The property will be sold and divided between Cobb County and the National Park Service.

The county has committed $5 million from the 2006 parks bond toward the purchase. Olens said a final agreement as to the division of the property is still being finalized by TPL.

"We're extremely close with negotiations as to the dividing of the property," Olens said. "We're anxious for a close to occur."

Earlier this year, Olens said the National Park Service would take the lead on the interpretive history of the land and the county will take the lead on the farm. Olens said he envisions having a working farm on the property where Marietta and Cobb school children can come and see how a real farm works.

Hyde Farm has remained steadfastly the same as it was when the Hyde Family first moved to the property in the late 1800s. The neatly plowed fields still produce corn, okra and sweet potatoes. The log cabin and nearby barns have weathered with age, but still show the skilled craftsmanship the Hyde's used to build them.

J.C. Hyde was the last Hyde to farm the property, working the fields with his mule, Nell, almost until his death in March 2004. Since his death, a farmer known only as Roho has maintained the crops.

In other action expected today, the Commissioners will consider authorizing a study on the feasibility of making the proposed Interstate 75/Third Army Road interchange a toll interchange. The proposed $30,000 contract would be with Florida-based PSB&J.

David Montanye, Cobb Department of Transportation Director, said the Georgia Department of Transportation is currently studying the possibility of building a new exit onto I-75 at Third Army Road in Bartow County near the county line. Studies already indicate that the new interchange could reduce the average travel times of motorist by 30 minutes.

Currently, there is about five miles between the Old Allatoona exit and the Glade Road exit.

"Cobb County has been in the leadership position to approve new interchange on I-75," he said. "A lot of Cobb County roads have a high volume of Paulding County traffic trying to get to I-75. This new interchange would give them more direct access to I-75 and relieve congestion on Cobb roadways."

Montanye said the cost estimate for the new interchange is $85 million - funding would be a major obstacle for the GDOT project, and tolls could help offset some of the costs.

The toll feasibility study would be to determine the likelihood that people would use the new interchange if it were a toll road, and how much people would be willing to pay, he said.

Montanye said no timeline exists for when the interchange would be built. GDOT has not approved the new interchange. If it gets GDOT approval, the proposal goes to the Federal Highway Administration.

He said today's action only concerns commissioning a study to look into one funding option for a major road project that could bring major relieve to Cobb's roads.

Kennesaw green space deal likely

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, November 29, 2008 by Dan Chapman, AJC staff writer

By year’s end, the city of Kennesaw’s oft-delayed development plans should edge closer to reality. Controversy, though, will continue to dog many of the projects. And the souring economy will also add to Kennesaw’s development woes.

“We’ve had our ups and downs. This past year has been very challenging for both the private sector and (local) governments,” said Bob Fox, the town’s community development director. “Everyone is waiting to see what happens with the economy.”

Fox said recently that he expects a deal to be worked out soon between the city, Cobb County and the owner of a 9.85-acre tract downtown.

Kennesaw had planned to build shops, condos and a parking deck on much of the forested land. Green space advocates prefer parkland. Compromise is likely. The site, behind City Hall, served as a Civil War training ground for Confederate soldiers. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also one of the top 10 properties targeted for acquisition and preservation by the county’s park advisory committee.

Flush with another $40 million parks’ bond approved by county voters earlier this month, Cobb could easily handle the $1.3 million asking price. But Kennesaw, with a population of 32,000 and a city budget of $23.1 million this fiscal year, has long coveted the land as a key piece of its downtown redevelopment puzzle. City and county officials have met repeatedly in recent weeks to iron out a compromise, perhaps setting aside two-thirds of the property as green space.

“There isn’t a 100 percent resolution, but we’re extremely close,” said Sam Olens, who chairs the Cobb County Commission and declined to offer details. “The accommodation is very much in favor of preservation of the property.”

Olens took a decidedly less diplomatic view of Kennesaw’s development of a 34-acre tract along North Cobb Parkway. The Columns, at the intersection of Kennesaw Due West Road, fashions itself a “walkable lifestyle center with the look and feel of a European style village,” according to the company’s Web site.

The Kennesaw Development Authority issued $12 million in bonds last year to help jump-start McGuire Realty’s proposed $100 million retail, office and hotel park. The so-called payment-in-lieu-of taxes bonds will be paid off over 25-30 years with tax money that would’ve gone to Cobb County, its school system and others.

“If Kennesaw seeks to do a redevelopment project with their millage that should be between them and their residents – the school system and the county millage should not be used without their respective governments’ consent,” said Olens. “We were totally in the dark, as was the school system.”

The county is requesting state legislators amend Georgia law to require that all affected governments approve those types of bonds before they’re issued. Kennesaw’s Fox defended the tax break.

“It allowed that project to be developed where it wouldn’t be developed otherwise,” he said. “It will allow that project to be a catalyst for development up and down Cobb Parkway.”

Fox listed a slew of other developments moving closer to fruition including light industrial, retail and road-building projects along Jiles Road; privately financed student housing downtown with as many as 700 beds for Kennesaw State University students; and construction, set to begin early next year, on a plaza and a pedestrian underpass below the train tracks that run through downtown.