Some east Cobb residents are concerned about Cobb County Schools’ plans for 35 acres the district has bought on Terrell Mill Road in Marietta. The district will relocate Brumby Elementary School from Powers Ferry Road and rebuild on 15 acres on the property. The district also plans to rebuild East Cobb Middle School on Holt Road or relocate it, possibly to the remaining 20 acres on Terrell Mill Road. Cobb Schools hasn’t determined plans for the middle school, but residents worry that two new schools will add to traffic in an already congested corridor.
Here is what readers had to say:
We live very close to the East Cobb Middle School, and it's fine where it is. We also travel Terrell Mill Road, and that's certainly not the place to put even one school, let alone two. The traffic in that area will be unmanageable. Cease and desist this crazy idea. — Don Klein
Please rebuild East Cobb Middle School on its present site. Terrell Mill will be a traffic nightmare. — Bryant Wright
It is alarming to think of one school being built on Terrell Mil; two is unthinkable! Terrell Mill is the artery from I-75 to the homes of many residents of East Cobb. It is very busy all day, but especially when people are trying to get to work in the morning and kids will be trying to get to school. East Cobb Middle deserves a better facility, but is well established in its present location across from Wheeler. Hopefully it will be rebuilt there. — Ann and Jeff Rice
The potential move of East Cobb Middle School to Terrell Mill Road seems to be no secret, despite the fact that no formal vote by the Board of Education or recommendation from the district has occurred to date. The issue becomes more than just traffic. It comes down to the board's occasional view that important decisions like the move of a large middle school can't be open to early public scrutiny and debate in addition to the use of taxpayer money. The relocation of Brumby to Terrell Mill, while not ideal, is a different decision than a move for the middle school to the same land. Another question is given that East Cobb Middle has plenty of land and is not on as busy a road, why is a major renovation at the current site out of the equation? — Kevin Nicholas
In addition to the obvious traffic problems that are going to be caused by the Brumby relocation and exacerbated by bringing a middle school to the same property, there are valid concerns about locating Brumby at the northernmost edge of the district. That will destroy a second growth forest with springs, streams and wetlands that are a wildlife trail to the river, and destroy the way of life that property owners moved here for. — Glenna Stanhouse
Tucker McQueen for the AJC
Woodstock’s downtown is a victim of its own success — when it comes to finding a place to park.
Despite the city’s opening of free public lots in recent years, parking can get tight during special events such as “Friday Night Live” and in general on weekends, when trendy restaurants, boutiques and other businesses draw people downtown.
The city is currently looking at more solutions, such as downtown-wide valet parking made possible by the private lot with some 150 valet-specific spaces. Officials are also weighing creation of a downtown parking committee that would do such things as coordinating space where business employees can park and managing deliveries to businesses.
One thing not being considered is metered parking, which was suggested in a Livable Centers Initiative Study a few years ago.
What do you think should be done? Do any of the above ideas hold appeal? Or is there another way that the city hasn’t considered to alleviate the parking problems? What about metered parking, which city officials admit would turn over spaces more quickly? A full-fledged garage? Shuttles to outlying parking, given limited space close to downtown? We’re asking you to park yourself, put on your thinking cap and give us your feedback at communitynews@ajc.com.
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