Bob Martell
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On the Blog Post Random Thoughts on Peachtree Corners
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On the Blog Post Issues in Life
Bob Martell
6:26 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013
I hope you're right Steve, but once this council sets all the wrong precedents there wont be much motivation for future councils to dial it back. As Jefferson said, "the natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground".
Don't hold your breath waiting for explanations, the lawyer has them on a pretty short leash. The good news? Three of them are up for re-election this November.
Good luck with the elbow. Hope it heals up quick! -
On the article Updates on Walmart, Peachtree Reserve, Noble Village Projects
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On the article City's Comprehensive Plan Slowly Coming Together
Bob Martell
12:01 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Well said Mim!! After buying the land across from the Forum, the city will have established the precedent that it can buy land because it doesnt like what the owner is doing or plans to do with it. It doesnt even need emminent domain anymore. Where does it end?
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On the article City to Buy Property Across From The Forum After Developer Bows Out
Bob Martell
8:06 pm on Sunday, April 21, 2013
Judy, these people were appointed 'to be' the DDA...they were chosen back when it first looked like the city was going to buy the property, their appointments were deferred by the announcement that Cheeley was going to buy the property.
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On the Blog Post To TAD or Not to TAD
Bob Martell
1:06 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
You're welcome Mim! For what its worth, at the townhall mtg last night Lorrie Christopher stated that the public discussion on trash service will begin in May and that the city plans to assume that service effective Jan 1, 2014. Thats the most definitive statement on the subject we've heard from the city yet.
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On the article Mayor Announces New Developer Stepping In to Buy Roberts Property
Bob Martell
2:30 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Randal, I have been as critical as anyone of the councils actions regarding this property, but the rezoning of a small parcel that Roberts had previously sold to a different developer didnt change the affordability of the project.
The 20.6 acres of RM-13 has/ had little frontage on 141. (it is C2 from the corner of 141 at PC Circle north about half way to the light at the entrance to the Forum, and again from near that light north to Medlock Bridge). That 141 frontage has been C2 for years, courtesy of Gwinnett County, not the Peachtree Corners city council. There is also still about 8 acres of R-100 along PC Circle up to the corner with Medlock Bridge.
The city council recently rezoned 3 acres from RM-13 to C2 for the Piedmont Five project. If you look at the plat of the project, you will see that the rezoned area only involves about 120 feet of frontage on 141, and a similar amount of frontage on Medlock Bridge. -
On the Blog Post Drama Free Living
Bob Martell
9:55 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
ReplyRE: Peachtree Corners, you nailed that one Steve!
First it was a crisis that Norcross was going to annex Tech Park and we had to become a city...then it was a crisis that we didnt know how much it was going to cost to create a city so we had to have a $2.2 million budget...then it was a crisis that somebody was going to build apartments so we needed to buy the land to stop them...and lost in all the clamor about the Roberts property, last week it was a crisis that we have to contract with the county to provide police and fire service, so they are changing the charter...
Kinda makes ya wonder whats next? -
On the article Q&A on Peachtree Corners 'Roberts' Land Purchase
Bob Martell
9:09 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
No disappointment (or elation) David...I was rather inclined towards the dictionary meaning myself...some on the council seemed to take a more Clintonian approach- it depends on what your definition of 'any' is...
I see your point about 'going back', however that does raise the question of why the city would need to contract with the county to provide additional services when the residents are already paying taxes to the county for those services...
Thanks for your time and perspective... -
On the article Q&A on Peachtree Corners 'Roberts' Land Purchase
Bob Martell
11:23 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
ReplyMr. Manley, as I recall you are a retired attorney...I see you have been opining on some of the provisions of the charter. If you are still following this thread, I wonder if you'd like to venture an opinion on a different provision?
On Tuesday the council approved a resolution asking state Rep. Tom Rice to introduce legislation to change the city charter to "grant the City the ability to enter into agreements with other governmental parties...to provide for any powers not currently bestowed upon the City." The council believes this allows the city to contract with Gwinnett County for police and fire services, which it certainly does. Others believe that the use of the word 'any' is unneccesarily broad and allows the city to contract for any number of services in addition to fire and police.Care to venture a legal opinion on the meaning of 'any'?
Bob Martell
2:50 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013
Ben, council posts 2, 4 and 6 are up for re-election this November. Qualifying deadline for candidates is sometime late August I believe. As far as I know all three are planning to run for re-election. So far I have only heard a couple of unspecific rumors about possible challengers.