Roswell's quandary over where to locate a new fire station continued when its city council voted on Monday to delay its decision, coming after more than six months of planning.
In need of replacement is Fire Station No. 4, which is old, small and infested with termites, and sits on Holcomb Bridge Road.
Thirty residents let officials know where they don't want it, with a dozen of them speaking out on the issue. Council members tried to defuse the tension by deferring their decision. They suggested that city engineers study alternative locations, preferably abandoned sites where businesses have closed down.
The city has two plans under consideration: Big Creek Park and the Terramont subdivision.
A fire station for Big Creek Park, a 159-acre woodland area laced with mountain-bike and walking trails, drew opposition from a mountain-bike group and other residents interested in keeping the park intact. The Roswell Alpharetta Mountain Bike Organization said it has spent long hours maintaining 4.9 miles of biking trails at the park.
The Terramont subdivision site on Holcomb Bridge Road brought resistance from nearby residents, who argued a fire station would directly back up to 11 homes.
David Tolleson, speaking in opposition to the Big Creek Park plan, said Roswell residents approved a bond issue for parks in 1996. Altering the land use now, he said, would betray those residents who voted for the bond.
Jennifer Wagner, a resident, pointed out that the Terramont property was deeded to the city as a park more than 30 years ago.
"I don't think Terramont should be an option," she said.
Council member Nancy Diamond said something needs to be decided soon. She opposes the Terramont site because it sits in a flood plain and is located on Holcomb Bridge Road, a high-traffic thoroughfare that could cut down on response times. The Big Creek site would provide better response with much less disruption, she said.
"We need to move forward," she said.
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