Friday, January 10, 2003
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Friday, January 10, 2003 |
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PTC keeps options open about parking lot, memorial park proposal for city-owned parcel By JOHN MUNFORD A proposal from a local business to buy a parcel of city-owned property on Ga. Highway 74 to expand its parking lot has caught some people by surprise, including some City Council members. But council will let the plan go through the planning commission review process before determining whether or not to sell the property to Frank Cawood & Associates. In addition to expanding its parking lot, FC&A wants to build and maintain a memorial park on the property in honor of former Fire Chief Gerald Reed, a project the city has yet to fund. But City Planner David Rast thinks there's too much parking lot and not enough park in the plans submitted to the city by FC&A. The property is located at the intersection of Hwy. 74 and Paschall Road and is a major entrance to the city's industrial park. FC&A is owned by Frank Cawood, who is also one of the directors and major stockholders of Fayette Publishing Inc., the parent company of this newspaper. FC&A's park plan was originally to be discussed at last week's city council meeting, but it was tabled at the request of company officials so they could meet with city staff to discuss the plans. Council members indicated the plan must go through the planning commission before they consider selling the property. Councilwoman Annie McMenamin said the city has always told persons interested in the property that it was not for sale. "In my opinion it would be highly inappropriate to sell this piece of property to one person and not go out to bid," she said, adding that she didn't mind looking at any design for the park, but she was concerned FC&A was asking for approval of its plan. "If somebody comes up with a very attractive package [financially] and is very appealing and does not degrade that corner, the council may be interested in that," McMenamin said. Former city clerk Frances Meaders questioned when the council decided to sell the property. "It's a beautiful piece of land just sitting there looking green and perfect and you're gonna have a memorial there. Is it because of money? Are you trying to make money for something else? Why are we selling the piece of property?" Councilman Steve Rapson said council has made no decision to sell the property. Mayor Steve Brown said the city has only received "a proposal" from FC&A on the matter and it would be referred to the planning commission. "I don't think the decision has been made which is part of the problem we're having," Rapson. "There's zoning problems, there's obviously bid problems and it's also, 'Do we even want to sell the property to begin with?'" Meaders asked if the city has gotten an appraisal on the property, and Fire Chief Stony Lohr said he had but he declined to reveal the value of the property since it would compromise the bidding process if council decides in the future to sell the property. Brown abstained from voting on the matter since he received a campaign contribution from "one of the principals" of FC&A. In a memo to council, Lohr also noted that FC&A officials want to "provide a substantial endowment for an educational fund for fire service personnel and their families." FC&A has hired an architectural firm to refine its original concept plan, Lohr said in the memo, which supported the FC&A proposal. "This is a highly unique and potentially beneficial action and I recommend that council concur with the continuation of the feasibility study," Lohr said.
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