Roswell ‘moves heaven and earth' to get roundabout

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Roswell got everyone to agree this week to its first traffic roundabout in, well, a decidedly roundabout way.

The controversial traffic tool, which will replace a signal light at Norcross Street and Grimes Bridge Road, had drawn criticism from more than 100 residents earlier this year. But it got through Monday's City Council meeting with hardly a hiccup.

In clearing the final hurdle, the city made some unusual concessions.

That's all the better for 103-year-old Mattie Smith, who said the construction noise and disruption would force her to move out of the three-bedroom house on the corner of the intersection.

The city plans to slice about a third of an acre off the lot, pave ground close to the carport and park heavy equipment in the front yard for eight to 12 months, said her son, Gary Smith. He owns the land.

"They first made me what they thought was a fair offer to take a big chunk of it, which we said ‘no' to," Gary Smith said. "My mother's 103. She's lived there 30 years and I didn't want to uproot her."

Smith said his concerns extended beyond his own property to neighbors' as well. The standoff produced several meetings with city officials.

The result: The city will buy the Smith property for $180,000, then allow Mattie Smith to rent for as long as she lives. Workers will also extend a berm to mitigate street noise.

"It's an unusual action, but it is the best solution we could agree to," said Roswell transportation director Steve Acenbrak. "We have no intention of getting into the real estate business. This was done for compassionate reasons."

Whenever the Smiths decide to vacate the property, Acenbrak said, the city plans to put it on the market for sale.

Barney Burroughs, who owns another corner lot, objected to the project because construction would damage several historic willow oaks on his property and impede access to his driveway.

The city agreed to pay Burroughs $55,000 to move his driveway and modify the house to reorient the garage.

As for the trees, the city hired an arborist to prepare them for the nearby construction. Crews will trim back the roots weeks before construction begins and treat the ground with nutrients so the trees will survive the shock, Acenbrak said.

Georgia has about 70 roundabouts, but this will be Roswell's first. Several more have been planned.

The city's approach to this controversy might have turned nasty. Ultimately, it could have gone to court and the properties condemned.

"We try to move heaven and earth to not do that," Acenbrak said. "We were so far apart at the beginning, it was crazy... Most of the people calm down and finally realize, ‘This is the best deal I'm going to get, and I'm okay with it.'"

Gary Smith agreed.

"They dealt with me above-board and fair, and I just thought it was a good deal for everybody," he said.

Smith also predicted the roundabout will grow on residents.

"I think in the long run, everyone who was against it will be for it, especially if they live there because I think it will help the flow of traffic," he said.