Gwinnett County's planning and development department issued a permit Friday for grading work at the site of the county's new baseball stadium.

Although some trees had earlier been cleared from the site on Bufrod Drive near the Mall of Georgia, the permit's issuance marks the true beginning of construction work on the $45 million stadium.

Project manager Preston Williams did not return a telephone call left at his office late Friday afternoon seeking comment on when work would begin at the site. Williams has previously said that he expected grading to begin within days of issuance of the permit.

The county is under a tight deadline to complete construction of the stadium by next spring's home opener for the top minor-league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. That team is relocating from Richmond, Va.

Among the first tasks, Williams has said, will be grading the land that will eventually become the playing surface of the 10,000-seat stadium.

The GCVB, Gwinnett County and the Atlanta Braves signed a contract last week for the ball club's Triple-A team to relocate from Richmond to Gwinnett County.