Meeting on Simpsonwood Property Sale Draws Large Crowd

Last fall the community was shocked to learn of the possible sale of the 227-acre Simpsonwood property. Nearby neighbors quickly began talking and spreading the word and soon afterwards the Citizens for Simpsonwood Conservancy (CSC) was formed.

The new group held its first meeting Tuesday, Jan. 7 at Christ the King Church. Despite temperatures that hovered in the teens, nearly 250 people gathered in the Fellowship Hall to hear presentations and to find out what if anything could be done to stop the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church from selling the pristine land located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River.

"We were amazed at the turnout," said Amreeta Regmi, a Peachtree Corners resident who helped organize the meeting. 

Highlighting the meeting was the presentation by Grace Lewis, a long-time resident and attorney who is well versed in property law. Lewis provided an overview that included an explanation on how the judge ruled and possible remedies.

"She laid out three steps that need to be taken," said Jim Erdy, CSC's president and founding member. "No. 1, get it stopped; No. 2 prepare to challenge the ruling in court; and No. 3, take it to court."

Erdy said the CSC's next plan of action is to introduce a petition to keep the Simpsonwood property passive green space. He said he and other CSC volunteers would begin canvassing neighborhoods for signatures. Then the petition will be delivered to Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason and Gwinnett County Dist. 2 Commissioner Lynette Howard. 

"Then we plan a letter campaign to the head bishop of the United Methodist Church, Gwinnett County Commissioners and Peachtree Corners City Council," he said.

Erdy led the meeting followed by a pictorial tour of the property provided by Preston Chappell, a history of the property by Kathy Erdy and a personal perspective of Miss Ludie Simpson by Carl Garner.

Peachtree Corners resident Jason Dill talked about the possible ways the land could be developed based on the current R-200 zoning. Also making presentations was the city's Community Development Director, Diana Wheeler and Stacy Funderburke with the Conservation Fund in the Georgia office who is working on land conservation efforts including expansion of parks and green space within the metro Atlanta area. 

For more information contact the CSC via email at simpsonwoodconservancy.csc@gmail.com or visit the organization's Facebook page.

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