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Home > Leaf Talk > Neighborhood > Parks & Greenspace > Kittredge Park Donation (?)
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Kittredge Park Donation (?)
Started January 5, 2011 @ 10:26pm by Gene Schmidt - Zoning Emeritus
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Gene Schmidt - Zoning Emeritus
Posts: 162 |
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| Kittredge Park Donation (?) | January 5, 2011 @ 10:26pm | I’m still on the job as the LVPCA representative with the Friends of Kittredge Park. On December 14th the FKP board met to discuss next years clean up schedule (which I have posted on LVPCA website calendar - please try to attend one, I could use some help) and a topic of concern to the FKP board. Rock Nelson and myself were in attendance to represent LVPCA.
Some of you may be aware of the vacant lot on LaVista Road at Toco Hill, north of the Blockbuster and directly between Kroger and LaVista Road. This property was held back from development by the Arnold family, as it contained the old family farm house and a huge 300+ year white oak tree. In 2003 a proposal for development was brought forward by RBC Centura to rezone the property from R-85 single family to C-1 commercial to build a bank. The 2 story house circa 1900 was demolished at that time. Merry Hills and North Druid Hills neighborhoods hoped they could use the then new Green Space bond program to acquire the property and opposed development. In April 2003 the neighborhoods (MHHA and NDHRA) asked me to represent LVPCA in this matter. A large “Save the Tree” rally was held on July 13th 2003, attended by myself and about 75 people from the communities, public officials, and the press.
The county would only authorize $500,000 vs. a $1,125,000 offer from RBC, so the family refused to sell to DeKalb. The zoning application proceeded and on April 26th 2005 the commercial zoning was granted with 5 conditions, one being that the oak tree remain. (I see though, on DeKalb Tax website, that the County still shows R-85 zoning and tax based on the demolished home, so this status needs to be clarified). By that time RBC was out of the picture, and there were several more development proposals before the market waned. The most likely was placing a building at the low side facing Kroger with shared parking, that would allow a park like setting as seen from LaVista Road, because of the topography. We had Peter Jenkins, a respected local Arborist and neighbor, inspect the tree. He cored it and found that the upper interior of the tree was hollow and the outer shell was in places only 7-9" thick, posing a danger and possibly indicating a shortened life. This tree still though is larger and potentially older than the state champion white oak in East Point.
Sometime in the past few years, it has come to the attention of the county that someone has cut a slot completely around the lower trunk of the tree several inches deep, yet it refuses to completely die. We now have the owner considering a development proposal from Chase Bank to build on this lot. They would like to have the zoning condition removed by the Board of Commissioners and be granted permission to remove the Oak from the middle of the lot. The owners could use the status of the tree to argue for removal, but decided to try and appease the neighborhoods first, before submitting the application. To that end they have approached FKP, about making a donation (amount unknown), since this park is represented by all the neighborhoods involved in the original protest.
Now my question to the LaVista Park neighborhood. No one on the FKP board was involved at the time of this controversy. They are therefore uncomfortable in accepting this donation unless the several neighborhood boards sign off. They’d rather refuse it than upset the community. They would also take it only with no strings attached. FKP will not endorse any development or tree cutting. FKP is also requesting the owner/developer to pay for an independent arborist of FKP choosing to verify the health of the Oak. These issues would still require the Board Of Commissioners (to remove condition) and Zoning Board of Appeals (for other specimen tree removal) approval at public hearings.
This was discussed at the January 5th LVPCA Board meeting, which I attended. The LVPCA Board had no objections to this donation, but were reluctant to provide a letter to FKP without greater neighborhood input. This wasn’t an issue for LVPCA in 2003 though I reported on the proceedings and results. If you have any concerns please contact me soon, since this issue may be resolved quickly.
Gene Schmidt
LVPCA - FKP rep.
efschmidt@yahoo.com |
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Gene Schmidt - Zoning Emeritus
Posts: 162 |
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| No Progress | February 24, 2011 @ 8:45am | Presumably with the demolition of Sonny's BBQ on Cheshire Bridge and the start of construction of a new free-standing Chase branch bank, the Toco Hill site is no longer in consideration.
The owners of the property have had no further discussions with FKP, so presumably this possible donation is off the table. |
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Gene Schmidt - Zoning Emeritus
Posts: 162 |
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| Medical Clinic | November 2, 2011 @ 8:27am | There is now new activity at this property. A proposal is soon to be filed for development of medical clinic on this property. Their attorney is now trying to set up a required pre-application neighborhood meeting. This is between North Druid Hills Residents Association and Merry Hills Homeowners Association, so they will take the lead. I am not aware if a time and place for this has been set yet.
The developer is expected to ask the Board of Commissioners to remove the zoning conditions, and remove the massive tree. |
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