At Issue: Where should the school district locate East Cobb Middle?

Here’s what readers had to say:

The 38-acre parcel of land that Great Wolf wants to rezone is surrounded on three sides by family neighborhoods, some of which have been in place for more than 30 years. The placement of an amusement park adjacent to their homes would have an immediate negative impact on property values and quality of life issues. The city council has no business approving rezoning or variances that have an adverse affect on the lives of city residents. If we wanted to live near an amusement park, we would have purchased homes next to Whitewater or Six Flags. The Great Wolf water park needs to be located in a commercial area adjacent to an interstate highway, not on a quiet residential street in a planned community! — Joe Henebry

[As the former Peachtree City mayor,] I pushed for the creation of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and backed our Development Authority. I authored the Transition Yard Ordinance to protect residential neighbors with berms, foliage and a 75-foot setback. This variance, reducing the setback to 40 feet, [would affect] homes by leaving the 90-foot tall-slide open visually and to sound from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., while creating a legal precedence. There are already traffic problems in this area. All the additions to the site will impact [golf] cart and car traffic. — Don Haddix

As a 10-year resident of Peachtree City, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed water park at the Dolce hotel. This idea is completely contrary to the nature and character of the surrounding residential neighborhood. I live in the Aberdeen section of Peachtree City and am especially fond of the beautiful and peaceful experience of walking and driving through the trees along Aberdeen Parkway. I cannot imagine what it would be like with the added traffic, noise and light pollution that would come with a water park in our backyards. — Patricia Gyi

A significant concern of residents who live downstream from the property relates to storm drainage. In this older area of Peachtree City, there are no curbs and storm drains along the parkways and many of the streets. There is a documented problem with excessive storm water drainage from the Dolce property into the creek that runs through adjacent neighborhoods. The addition of tens of thousands of square feet of impervious surface in roofs and parking lots required for the Wolf Lodge will only exacerbate an existing problem. — Heather Click

Jill Howard Church for the AJC

The Cobb County Schools district has bought 35 acres on Terrell Mill Road near Delk Road in Marietta and approved relocating Brumby Elementary School from Powers Ferry Road to the site.

Rebuilding Brumby on 15 acres will take about two years.

The question is what will the district do with the remaining 20 acres?

There has been talk about relocating East Cobb Middle School, but the board of education hasn’t decided yet to rebuild the school at its Holt Road location or move to the Terrell Mill property. More than 140 residents attended a Terrell Mill Community Association meeting Wednesday to discuss concerns about the property.

Association President William Parker said development on a busy road is a contentious issue among homeowners in the area. He said an upcoming water main replacement project on Terrell Mill and Brumby construction will clog an already congested road. If the middle school also relocates to the site, residents are concerned that cars lining up to pick up children in the late afternoon will add to congestion during rush hour traffic.

We would like you to weigh in on the issue. What do you think? Should East Cobb Middle School also move to the property or rebuild where it is? Leave comments here or send email to communitynews@ajc.com