Sandy Springs sued over school athletics complex

A Sandy Springs neighborhood coalition filed a lawsuit Thursday against the city and the private Holy Spirit Preparatory School, arguing the city overstepped its authority in approving an athletics complex near a residential neighborhood.

The Long Island Neighborhoods Coalition, together with an adjoining property owner, wants a Fulton County Superior Court judge to reverse the City Council’s Aug. 19 decision, and prevent construction of the athletics facilities until the case is decided.

Attorney Brian Daughdrill, who represents the neighborhood, said the city erred in approving the athletics complex, which includes a football and soccer field, bleachers for 400 spectators and a 15,000-square-foot field house.

The City Council needed to rezone the 8-acre property before it approved the special use permit allowing the athletics facilities. In addition, it had no authority to approve field lighting or a public address system for a field near a neighborhood, Daughdrill said.

Assistant City Attorney Cecil McLendon disagreed. “This was thoroughly evaluated,” McLendon said Thursday.

The council voted 4-2 to approve the athletics complex, following a meeting that drew more than 200 residents and school supporters. Opponents have argued the athletics facility is inappropriate for its location, off Long Island Drive, and that it will create too much noise and light intrusion.

Holy Spirit Prep is a Catholic school for children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. It has two academic campuses, in Sandy Springs and Atlanta, but has no space for its football team to play home games, and lacks adequate soccer fields for its younger students, said school President Gareth Genner.

Genner called the lawsuit “a blatant attempt to delay the project.” Holy Spirit planned to start construction of its complex early in 2009, and have the football field ready by fall season, he said.

“We’re planning on using the facility in September.”