Community Commentary

Dear All:
I live in the Sagamore Hills Community off of Briarcliff Road and
Clairmont Road. Recently there was an estate sale off at 3571
Briarcliff Road. This has always been a "mystery" to those relatively new
to the neighborhood (I moved here in 1996) as it is a long driveway
covered with a "forest" of trees concealing whatever house was there. I stopped
in to just see what was down that driveway to be taken back in time. This
property is the original Hunting Club, for whom I do not know, that has
been in a family since the 1920's. the Hunting Lodge is all STONE with slate
floors and very beautifully rustic set on 17 acres of land. While I was
there there were also developers seeking out the site. All I could image
is this wonderful piece of the past going to ruin with bunched up million
dollar homes where there used to be trees and history. The lodge itself
is clearly from another time and place. To loose this would really be a
crime. I am writing to anyone who might be of interest to see how we can save it
from the developers who care for not for history or for beauty but for the
beauty of money. They will destroy something that truly should be saved.
Do you have any suggestions on how to prevent this from happening?

I would like to register my opposition to the proposed rezoning of the southeast corner of Lavista Road and Nalley Circle from LDR to LMR. My concerns are twofold. I am concerned about the impact of continued medium and high density development on traffic along the Lavista Road Corridor which, as you know, is a heavily traveled thoroughfare with only one lane in each direction. It is increasing congested during the morning rush hour with cars delayed from the traffic light on the corner of Lavista and Clairmont Road as far back as the traffic light at Oakgrove Road. In addition, it is my understanding that there is, to the east of the property, an R-100 single family home that will be trapped between two townhouse developments and that to the south are one story ranch houses, again on R-100 lots. I urge you to carefully consider the impact that the approval of the project will have on both the traffic and the character of the surrounding area. I urge you to vote against this application.

Dear Gail Walldorff & Judy Yates:

I am writing to you in hopes of creating a dialogue that can resolve a very important issue to me and my family.
Our concerns about potential rezoning around Leafmore Hills & Creek Park Hills

1. Development that is inconsistent with the existing neighborhood
a. Dramatically different house sizes and architectural styles ruin the "look and feel" of our neighborhood. We now have cookie-cutter Milani McMansions and townhome developments randomly scattered among our established ranch homes.
b. Proposed new developments are of much higher density than the neighboring properties. Our neighborhood may soon be congested with traffic, creating frustration and additional safety concerns.

2. Environmental destruction
a. Recent development has shown a lack of respect for the natural environment for which our area is known. In the spring, the dogwoods line each and every street. In the summer, the leaves of great oaks provide shade. In the fall, the color of the leaves is beautiful. If current development trends continue, however, Leafmore Hills will become Leaf-LESS Hills.
b. Loss of this vegetation negatively affects the aesthetic value of our neighborhood.
c. New developments do not plant trees that will replace existing trees. A scattering a Bradford Pears cannot replace a grove of oaks. In addition, there is no room for substantial trees to be planted at a later date.
d. Runoff caused by new high-density developments may cause flooding on the neighborhood creeks which act as our storm drains.

3. Destabilization of property values
a. Short term, our property values will rise. So will our property taxes.
b. Long term, our property values will FALL, as the value of our investment in real estate is reduced to the value of the land only. In a teardown environment, the value of my home and other improvements is zero.

4. Competition for schools
a. As density increases, there will be pressure to rezone areas out of the Oak Grove Elementary School District. Being a part of this district is the main reason many families chose our neighborhood.
b. Being rezoned out of Oak Grove's district WILL affect our property values negatively.

If the greed of developers is allowed to continue unchecked, the quality of life we enjoy (and pay for) will be lost. Very soon, our neighborhood will lose its charm.

Please address the above concerns. I am interested in hearing what can be done to save our intown neighborhoods.

The property on Oak Grove right behind the Walgreen's has long been zoned
for higher density development. A group called Peachland Homes recently
acquired the property and plans to develop several town homes. In addition
they attempted to violate county code by rezoning the 50-ft buffer between
this property and the Walgreen's which would have allowed them to build
even more homes. The Zoning Committee and Montevallo Circle residents
(with the help of compensated legal counsel) fought this action and won!
We are also actively pursuing other avenues to minimize the impact of the
existing higher density zoning.

North Druid Hills - the driving range:
A recent application by The Pacific Group to rezone the 15.93 acre piece of
property that borders North Druid Hills, the railroad tracks and your
neighbors along Burnt Creek Road and Burnt Creek Court to high density
residential and commercial. The property currently houses the Hidden
Valley Driving Range. Developers would like to build 147 new town homes on
this property (all feeding Oak Grove Elementary). This is the 4th time in
the last 5 years that rezoning the driving range has been attempted. The
Zoning Committee volunteers have successfully dealt with all previous
attempts. Again, the Zoning Committee and Burnt Creek residents are
working to raise the money needed to fight this request.

This is from a neighbor who works at the Driving Range and lives nearby .

The Pacific Group has been at the driving range drilling and doing
their hydrology. Today they are drilling about 20 feet from Druid Hills
Road and at 2 feet and hit 25" of water. The other day they drilled in
parking lot through the asphalt, by the batting cages and veterinarian
office and drilled down 2 feet and hit water there. Water is rising and
falling from the drillholes. It's not gushing, he said, but it is
certainly coming out of the holes.

Apparently the water table has risen because two years ago when they
were drilling they had to go 6 feet down before they hit water.

This drilling is no where near the creek.