No Plan Approved for Downtown Park

Dacula residents will have to wait a while longer to learn what features will be incorporated into a proposed downtown park.

A concept plan for the park, to be located at the corner of Second Avenue and Wilson Street, called for a plaza area, grass terraces, a gazebo and an interactive, zero-grade fountain.

Last week, the Dacula City Council had the opportunity to take a .

Though a majority of the council expressed support for the concept plan during the work session, a motion to move forward with the proposal failed to pass during the Feb. 3 council meeting.

Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks said the council would continue to consider what features should be incorporated into the plans and would revisit the issue at a later date.

Costs for the proposed park have not yet been determined. Another factor that could ultimately affect the city's plans is the outcome of legal proceedings to condemn a tenth-acre tract of land at the site of the proposed park. The council .

Hinton's property, a vacant 50-foot-by-90-foot strip last appraised at $22,000, is not suitable for building due to setback requirements for new construction, according to Wilbanks. However, the land will provide construction crews with access to the city's land – access Wilbanks says is needed to safely demolish an old structure on the proposed park site – as well as additional park space.

On Dec. 6, the city finalized the $167,000 purchase of three parcels of land next to Hinton's property. The park will be situated on the half-acre tract, which was purchased using Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds from 2005 and 2009.

Both SPLOST measures require that a portion of the proceeds be spent on park space.

The park will replace the small downtown gathering place and gazebo once located near the railroad tracks. The city was forced to demolish the gazebo in June 2009 due to its encroachment on the CSX railroad right-of-way.

OTHER BUSINESS

The council did not take any action on a . According to councilman Gregory Reeves, the city is waiting to see what action, if any, the county plans to take regarding a bridge-widening project at Dacula Road and Winder Highway. If approved, the bridge-widening project area would extend far enough to undo a portion of the work proposed for Second Avenue.

The council did authorize the disposition of the city’s 1998 Chevrolet Lumina patrol car. The vehicle will be donated the vehicle to the Gwinnett County Police Department for use in training exercises.

The council also held an executive session to discuss real estate matters. No action was taken as a result of the discussion.