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Concerned Citizens of East Cobb

Protecting Our Community's Residents, Seniors, Schools and Environment

Walking the Tritt Property next to East Cobb Park and 4 subdivisions

2/28/2015

 
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View of the Tritt property barn from proposed Buildings K and Building I
Guest Post: While working with Concerned Citizens of East Cobb against the Isakson Living CCRC development plans, I had the opportunity to walk the 54-acre Tritt property, as part of a tour with Isakson Living's landscape architect to understand where the 11 mostly 4-story apartment buildings and 65 homes would be located in relation to existing subdivision homes, East Cobb Park, and streams including Sewell Mill Creek.  I actually got to walk on the Tritt property 2 times because the first time not all the buildings at been staked out completely.  Here's the CCRC building plan to show where I was standing when I took the pictures, so that you can understand the CCRC plans more fully, and see how the buildings would look like if this zoning passes. 

I will say that I was against the CCRC plans before the tour. But now I'm overwhelmed, because the property is so beautiful, even in the middle of winter, and the CCRC buildings are much closer to the borders of the property than I thought. 
 I realize that people need to live and work somewhere, and there's only so much space that can be saved.  However, the scale of these plans is so completely out of character here, and very urban when compared to anything else in East Cobb. As far as I know, there are no 4-story buildings anywhere in East Cobb, so I was surprised to see so many 4-story buildings on the plan!  

Thank Josh Groban, Don't Give Up
PictureTritt property view: Stream, Hardwoods, Elm Grove
Topography: The landscape is so beautiful, it's rolling hills with spaced hardwoods in every direction.  I noticed some micro-zones on the property, and one of my favorite was a grove of elms.  I also especially liked climbing to the top of the main hill, it's a perfect view of the area: to East Cobb Park, the hill to Glenside, across to Providence, and over to Hidden Hollow.  I was quite upset to learn that 28-30 feet of 'ground' would be taken away to make it flat enough to build on.  Why wouldn't the developers build on a property that is already flat?  Wouldn't that be better for the environment? Cheaper? Easier? I was told they would 'replant' on this property after the buildings were built... But then why wouldn't they just replant after building on already developed property?? If they are going to cut down all the trees anyway, why wouldn't they purchase a different property that is already developed?  These trees should be saved.  I can see why this property was highest on the Park Bond 2006 and Park Bond 2008 list:  It is meant to be saved.

Insight about the retirement concept: When I first learned about a retirement community on the Tritt property, I thought, how sweet, seniors can age in a beautiful forest near their grandchildren playing at East Cobb Park... but now I realize, all the trees will be cut down on the property, and there is no 'little' retirement community in the woods... there are huge multi-story buildings with homes so close to the next subdivision you could easily toss a football between them.  Then, East Cobb Park would be changed forever by towering buildings.  Even the donated land would run along the edge of 50-60 ft tall buildings that go on for the entire length of East Cobb Park.

Insight about schools: I had also been told that this 481-unit retirement community would be better than a subdivision because it wouldn't add children to the schools.... but now I understand if even 100 East Cobb seniors moved out of their existing homes into this CCRC retirement community, that would mean 100 homes available for new families to move into... and that could overcrowd the schools.   Ironically building an 80-home subdivision on the Tritt property could mean less students for the schools!  Of course, I would rather see this property saved, but that's another topic...  For now, this development plan should be stopped.  

PictureCCRC Plan covers 54-acres
Cumberland Mall comparison: I had heard that this Isakson Living CCRC would have more square footage than Cumberland Mall, and I can see that now. Honestly it felt even bigger. I walked over 2 hours during each visit to cover much of the property, and I didn't see everything.  I walked around the perimeter to see the potential views from the 11 multi-story CCRC buildings and some of the 65 CCRC homes. 



Directions to Tuesday, March 3 at 9:00 AM meeting at the Board of Commissioners, 100 Cherokee Street near the Marietta Square

Online Petition


Some extra pictures of nature on the Tritt property
Old wall near a stream
Fallen tree looks like driftwood
Wild cyclamen
Forest floor ferns
Tree lichen like seashells
Swampy wetlands view
Pretty quartz rock
Soft tree moss
Unique holly-like plant
Little magnolia
Jeff A. Taylor link
3/1/2015 09:16:33 pm

I think the stream buffer issue is a key. That stretch merits maximum protection, not the minimum. I would start by trying to find what setback was used for subdivision development along Little Noonday Creek off of Canton Rd.

Thomas J Palmer
3/1/2015 10:21:47 pm

@Jeff The predominant issue for the Cobb County government and the Zoning Board as well is; HOW MUCH TAX REVENUE WILL WE GET !!!?? by approving the rape of the land. As the last chapter is written, the elected officials don't care squat about what the surrounding property owners want, they are focused on money for the county coffers. IMHO

Rita Aboulafia
3/1/2015 10:10:20 pm

this are is priceless and should remain pristine and natural.

Tulah
3/1/2015 10:11:09 pm

Save this pristine property. Don't allow it to be ruined, please.

Roy
3/1/2015 10:14:44 pm

Its easy to see why WellStar Hospital was developed across the street from the proposed Senior living community though I do not understand how a senior living community is even considered a viable development for the East Cobb area. The main problem that I see is that Senior communities do not help surrounding business except hospitals. All foods and everyday supplies are trucked in from warehouses, maintenance crews will be pooled from large contract service company's, Caregivers will most likely come from other areas and the Business owners are Headquartered out of Atlanta.
While the business is owned by Andy Isakson (brother of U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson) operated by Isakson Living creating a well designed self serving business model and leaves a hole in the community.
If the project is not successful while under development they have been know to default on loans leaving it up to the Banks and community to sort out a 26.6 million dollar mess that turned into a burden on tax payers and the local community as they pushed the development to become Government-Subsidized Housing A.K.A. "SECTION 8" in the prestigious Buckhead area. I don't think East Cobb wants to chance that.
With strong ties in government it's easy to see how influential this developer can be.

Joy Kniskern-Murphy
3/2/2015 01:52:18 am

It is tragic to see how supposed leadership is galvanized by greed in the development of this pristine property in a part of the Metro Atlanta area that is already overdeveloped. Better to integrate seniors within and around communities in smaller developments in keeping with the character of the community rather than mega malls that run the risk of elder abuse from the sheer size. Speaking as a senior, personally, I would find living in such a place horrifying - too many people, not enough young people and children, a senior silo. Yuck. Hats off the the community leaders who ARE making a difference to stand up for what they believe in. And in this case, the seniors would be raped to pay megabucks to live in a silo. Really???? Bad investment, Isakson boys. Bad, bad, investment, You can't buck the community around you. It's unethical and ill-advised and you will face years of coming to terms with your lack of regard for the community around this horrid development.

Marcia
3/2/2015 02:34:32 am

i say NO, hell No. Preserve the green space. We need the peace and tranquility.

Thomas J Palmer
3/2/2015 03:02:33 am

@Marcia: Basically, I agree with you. However, have you had a conversation with Mrs.Tritt? She owns or owned the property for many, many years and apparently she agreed to certain caveats in the sales contract. Was she not within her rights to do this? And now, can another group of citizens take this right away from her?

Marsha Yeager
3/15/2015 11:06:28 pm

I would love to talk to Mrs. Tritt. I'd remind her of the ancestor's will that stipulates that the trees never be removed. She at one time favored her property becoming a park. I'd plead with her to allow the citizens of East Cobb to buy her property and develop it into a green space for all to enjoy. East Cobb is becoming treeless with the density of the development being approved by the Board of Comm. Soon we will need Roswell Road widened to handle the traffic and there goes the median strip that we have now.

Cynthia Bachmann
3/2/2015 06:24:08 am

If all the housing units are built, and the new residents use East Cobb Park, will there be any room left for the rest of us to use the Park?

Jim B
3/2/2015 08:37:43 am

I moved out of East Cobb because of the over crowded area, lack of support by the county for green space, parks and natural environment. No one locally will benefit from this mess proposed by Isakson. Expect outside businesses, employees and suppliers. The size of the development is unbelievable. Don't Give Up. Fight the fight because it is worth it. I love how the City of Roswell go out of the way to protect green space.

Marilyn Voss
3/2/2015 08:53:04 am

Listen to your voters....Mr. Lee, please do something to stop this horror from happening.

Thomas J Palmer
3/3/2015 09:32:00 pm

@Marilyn: How can you possibly think that Lee would do anything to stop the flow of tax revenue into Cobb County government. Have you forgotten the sleeze he pulled, circumventing the voters, to deal clandestinely for the Atlanta Braves to move. Wake up to reality!!!

Rudy and Bernice Dreese
3/2/2015 01:06:33 pm

We feel this beautiful piece of property should remain natural. East Cobb is becoming so congested with shopping centers and housing developments. We should STOP tearing down and enjoy the beauty that brought us to this place.

tm
3/3/2015 01:24:12 am

NO, NO, NO, LEAVE IT AS IT IS, its beautiful and peaceful.

Dinah
3/3/2015 11:59:07 am

Why in the world should accept to trade this gorgeous natural area for a huge building and more crowding?!

Mary Lou Erickson
3/4/2015 08:50:44 am

Please Do Not ruin my favorite places to hike & walk in East Cobb!!!!

Catherine Raymond
3/7/2015 07:56:17 am

Greed. Greed. Greed. Yes. Mrs. Tritt had the right to sell her property with caveats. However, the rest of the community does not have to agree. It is a beautiful property that needs TLC development.

CCEastCobb
3/8/2015 07:46:23 am

Property owners have the right to sell to anyone, but developers do not have the right to develop anything they want on a property. Zoning laws exist to protect communities from inappropriate development, and the Board of Commissioners has an obligation to uphold the zoning codes. This 54-acre property is zoned Low Density Residential, and changing it to something commercial and large-scale is not in keeping with the character of this area.

Peggy Baer
3/15/2015 07:30:57 am

I oppose the development of the Tritt property.

Thomas J Palmer
3/16/2015 02:10:03 am

East Cobb Park is quite heavily used most every day or every week that it's not raining. I noticed many, many cars from counties other than Cobb in the parking lots. DeKalb, Fulton, Cherokee, Paulding were well represented. As this is a public park, I don't imagine there is anyway to restrict citizens living in other counties from using the facilities??


Comments are closed.
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    The Concerned Citizens of East Cobb

    The Concerned Citizens of East Cobb represents thousands of East Cobbers who want the 54-acre Tritt property next to East Cobb Park to be fully conserved as a park.

    ​Read more blog posts from this website here,
    and read previous blogs posts from the first CCEastCobb website here.

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