Council Discusses Purchasing Retention Pond, Restoring Waterworks Facility

At its monthly Policy Work Session, the Norcross City Council held a public hearing for the proposed land acquisition of a 12.2 acre parcel that includes a retention pond and two-story commercial building.

Lindsey Acciarito, a Brookhollow Village resident, spoke out in favor of the city acquiring the land and cleaning the area for residents and employees of a nearby commercial park to use. The plans include refurbishing a walking trail that rings the pond.

"I want to encourage you to vote in favor of the retention pond. This city is great at making beautiful parks. But we feel forgotten over there," said Acciarito referring to the area near Brookhollow Road where she lives. "I think we'd feel more a part of Norcross and it would be a wonderful addition to the business park, too."

A maintenance budget was presented that included a figure of $29,810 for annual cost of maintaining the pond and walking trail. One of the council members brought up the fact that the pond had not been dredged in 10 years and that the beaver dam would have to be removed.

The Council agreed to look into it in more detail and also at the cost of refurbishing the commercial building that is included in the acquisition.

In other news, Connie Weathers offered comments on the Barton Street Waterworks Facility, which was built in 1938. She said the structure needed to be preserved for its historical value and the effort would also make the building safer by "enhancing security, improving curb appeal and would also bring the building into code compliance."

But the City Council was surprised at the $265,000 estimate presented to restore the 75-year-old building.

The cost included returning the red brick exterior back to its original state, removing the current roof to expose the original concrete one beneath, removing a section of the building that was not part of the original, replacing broken windows and securing the building so that it would not be broken into in the future.

The City Council decided to set the issue aside for another month.

Other items discussed:

-The mayor lead a discussion on the 2014 SPLOST and possible projects that the council would need to identify.

-Duluth-based Jacobs was chosen for the city's comprehensive plan.

-A proposed adult day care to be located in the shopping center on the corner of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Medlock Bridge Road. It would operate from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. and serve approximately 70 clients. Planning and Zoning recommended approving with conditions.

-Planning and Zoning recommended denying a request to operate a place of worship at 2900 Cole Court, which is an industrial area and does not provide adequate parking space for the 120 or so people who would be attending on Wednesday nights and Sundays.

-The expansion of the Gwinnett Village CID was discussed and in all likelyhood will be approved, said the mayor. "It's not an expansion of the CID's borders, just an expansion of the businesses located within the district," said Johnson.

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