[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6081375,"mediaKeyId","2942810-db6efbea5a77d0ef344b2ed06b861154","parentId",2942810,"title","Kennesaw council hears debate over proposed 15-year incentives, $70,000 annual payment for Lacey 2 development","audioSeconds",452,"startMs",1335000,"endMs",1787000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942810-db6efbea5a77d0ef344b2ed06b861154&start=1335&end=1787","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942810-db6efbea5a77d0ef344b2ed06b861154/thumbnail_1335000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081375/Kennesaw/Cobb-County/Georgia/Kennesaw-council-hears-debate-over-proposed-15-year-incentives-70000-annual-payment-for-Lacey-2-development","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081375-cb8965bbdab40c53e5947ac5932d6955/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151146&Signature=bBoirtdeRvO4wLtQfKnCPhfIlzaiPY6HGK-UTCRNBVyiPEeB0rmfJH7kze0oSqVOD4mepO4LuNiHFPT9TXyICcxoeUyOMe32n6xXXvNvk~hb6rigc3wkrjIeEcA4zkhFV33Qcg-ssDaVqXZnIjhuvMELH53Rc8qud2l30r2scX4n~KS1vUwJIm-FzHobV8OeDO67~BQSUOg8bYKR-Rv1YWizosG8rOjZyobh3-nph6vxH7zE4P55Pk5AFhU0PjqzYpgt3yyWcACaJIJWbTyOa9hLKkvht6re65rLWhzMXhrQyiPcOXoOP3mfBOp7lbHaz9Mi3I07syhEdhIDtKbxkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Kennesaw GA ","date","2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","article","City staff presented a preliminary incentive application for the Lacey 2 development and described a proposed financing structure that would span 15 years and provide the Kennesaw Downtown Development Authority with a $70,000 annual administrative payment.

The project team and staff told the council the Lacey 2 package would be structured similarly to a prior deal across the street but with three differences: it would run 15 years (not 10), include an administrative payment to the KDDA of $70,000 per year, and create pilot payments tied to new value. A city staff member said the $70,000 annual payment would total “over a million dollars” across the 15‑year term and that the money is intended for downtown investment, including property acquisition or debt service.

The proposal prompted several council members to press staff on the term length. One councilmember said the incentives “came out of left field” and that, had they known the full incentive package in advance, they might not have supported approving zoning. That councilmember suggested reducing the term to 10 years, noting the council had used a 10‑year term for an earlier project across the street.

Another councilmember argued the project is more complex than the earlier deal and cited environmental remediation, high land acquisition costs and approximately $1.5 million in road improvements as reasons the developer requested the larger package. The city staff member said the parcels currently generate about $25,000 in annual tax revenue split among city, county and schools; under the pilot structure the KDDA would receive a portion and also the separate $70,000 administrative payment each year.

Staff said the developer was open to shorter terms than 15 years but that reducing the term would lower or eliminate the multi‑year cash infusion to downtown the KDDA hopes to use for redevelopment. No final council vote occurred; city staff said a KDDA meeting is scheduled for April 7 to review the incentive application and that the item remains under review.

Council members asked staff to continue negotiating and to return with clearer figures showing tradeoffs between term length and downtown cash flow.

The item is informational and no formal council action adopting incentives was recorded at the March 31 work session. The KDDA and future council actions will determine the final structure and any formal abatement or pilot agreement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session Meeting - March 31, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented a preliminary incentive application for the Lacey 2 development and described a proposed financing structure that would span 15 years and provide the Kennesaw Downtown Development Authority with a $70,000 annual administrative payment.","taxTitle","Kennesaw, Cobb County, Georgia","taxId",49191,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081366,"Council discusses widely divergent appraisals for right‑of‑way at 2995–2997 North Main Street; suggests midpoint offer",212,833000,1045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942810-db6efbea5a77d0ef344b2ed06b861154&start=833&end=1045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942810-db6efbea5a77d0ef344b2ed06b861154/thumbnail_833000.jpg","/articles/6081366/Kennesaw/Cobb-County/Georgia/Council-discusses-widely-divergent-appraisals-for-rightofway-at-29952997-North-Main-Street-suggests-midpoint-offer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081366-702a20472b6330c1aba621bbc64d03f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151146&Signature=cMbsqc1NbhHfHPVBRuCY86rnvp3XQWC297TVxH0FWkcmy3XaT4PXmYgzE1ouipiKE0HynnnQWUVYrAafkqbFkfOP36XUT7wrEbmHcZYZcXOHUEzOBJ50IStyV83MFQCjIYvdzUI5yV0sauxpizNrR5mxjvNFLhSzvesViS2Xj4Su0viT9WnzQP1viZB0m6nA7TVGd3vO8btPY5hiesft07MdUFGZgQSYcaWYKZj6prWCNV7EGpHuD09bj~5UnmoRLz5YRcjmPPuaudDyz1ZPmilolNTfxowFvs2WLcAJZe6Z9VaBrMeimxzAwjkgtJY3uWOyXrcxCJvIF7KQB2RlYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff briefed the council on a request to abandon a city right‑of‑way affecting property at 2995 and 2997 North Main Street and presented two appraisals with substantially different assessed fair‑market values.

The property owner originally submitted an appraisal from Beck Appraisal Services valuing the area at $9,000. The city then hired Hall Rigdon & Associates, which returned a higher fair‑market value of $15,600. Because the appraisals differ by $6,600, councilmembers questioned the comparables used and whether either appraisal would hold up under challenge.

One councilmember described the two appraisals as “so far off” from each other that neither might be reliable. The city attorney advised that the key legal standard is whether the city can make the argument that the adopted figure represents fair market value; the council may negotiate with the property owner.

After discussion, several councilmembers expressed willingness to meet the parties in the middle. The council agreed in principle to ask staff to present a midpoint figure of approximately $12,300 to the property owner and to proceed with negotiations based on that number.

Staff also noted the parcel’s configuration and limited utility as a right‑of‑way, which some members said reduces its value to both the city and to the owner. The council directed staff to return with the owner’s response and to proceed according to the abandonment process documented in city procedures.

No final ordinance abandoning the right‑of‑way was adopted at the work session; the council provided direction to staff on valuation and next steps.","City staff presented two appraisals for a right‑of‑way abandonment request at 2995 and 2997 North Main Street that differed by $6,600; council members expressed concern over the variance and directed staff to propose a midpoint figure of roughly $12,300 to the property owner",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081371,"Kennesaw moves several routine items to consent; council reviews event road closures, election contract and capital items",445,305000,750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2942810-db6efbea5a77d0ef344b2ed06b861154&start=305&end=750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2942810-db6efbea5a77d0ef344b2ed06b861154/thumbnail_305000.jpg","/articles/6081371/Kennesaw/Cobb-County/Georgia/Kennesaw-moves-several-routine-items-to-consent-council-reviews-event-road-closures-election-contract-and-capital-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081371-e955fb5e7208c736b976e12b8dee307a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151146&Signature=X4FeISmZUUpk6Uk~EJ1pXTvrkHaipogBiFpRKikfwPRzH1oswa-6M2zkVZmCQ7KNeE2cecrWKEx0ayzz5ljaSWmHW7tURAnWcxcZQU7S6TC9IPZXJVk-SBHdYyw89sqMa4-AtBbmqogHufS5zQhVeFTPnJx8pOwN5WCRTm5wUbs6IrGq3utA6tuMJKfGFTt3YoZxkBckKs3XhWuQUZgGCDYpfWOISFOAioRwLdGupVBg3vCqbMFO~ba96-IWEIrNh3IFKtvdaB5EyupMcOvu33bKAFIdjTBHgbJbOAKcpy0GXJxy30mmQgyQMOfwlA0rHuhr-KRU9AwmW35qv8Yp2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kennesaw Mayor and Council moved multiple routine items to the consent agenda at its March 31 work session, while taking public comments and reviewing upcoming event road closures and capital planning steps.

The city’s licensing board (referred to in meeting documents as the Lisonbee review board) held a March 17 hearing on an alcohol license for UHP Partners LLC, doing business as Suburban Bar and Social Club, with licensee David Ulmer. The licensee agreed to a consent decision signed by all parties; the licensing board then voted unanimously 3‑0 to accept the consent decision. The council moved that consent decision onto the consent agenda.

On elections, staff presented a resolution to appoint the Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration to serve as superintendent for the city’s general election on Nov. 4, 2025, in accordance with Kennesaw Code of Ordinances section 42‑2, OCGA section 21‑2‑540(b) and the Kennesaw Charter section 5.02. Qualifying dates were set for Aug. 18–20, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch noon–1 p.m.). Councilmembers asked why the contract text references a runoff and whether any state election is scheduled the same day; staff said the contract form is boilerplate and that the city will run this election in conjunction with a statewide special general election for the Public Service Commission, which avoids net costs to the city.

Event staff outlined road‑closure requests. Taste of Kennesaw is scheduled Nov. 1 with closures beginning Oct. 31 at 11 p.m. and reopening after midnight Nov. 1; planned closures include Cherokee Street (Main to Shirley Drive), Big Shanty Drive, Main Street (Summer to Lewis), J.O. Stevenson Avenue and Lewis Street. The council approved moving the request to consent. The council also discussed Pigs & Peaches (Aug. 15–16, 2025) and a plan to host booths on Main Street and use the amphitheater to encourage downtown activity; councilmembers noted the festival has moved locations in past years.

Staff presented a draft capital improvements short‑term work program related to the city’s impact fee ordinance (presented in the materials as adopted in 2030). City staff recommended submitting the draft to the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for initial review and then adopting an updated report by June 30 after agency comments. The council agreed to follow the required public notification and legal advertising steps prior to adoption.

Other consent items discussed included a resolution to replace electrical services to Fields 5 and 6 at Adams Park because equipment has reached the end of its life; Allstar Electrical quoted $30,130.97 and staff said the work would be paid through city sources (listed in the packet as “Swass”).

Where items were informational or moved to consent, the council did not take substantive roll‑call votes at the March 31 work session; the items will appear on the consent agenda at a subsequent meeting for formal action.","At the March 31 work session the council moved multiple routine items to the consent agenda, including a liquor license consent decision, the general election superintendent contract with Cobb County, road‑closure requests for city events, and a resolution to submit the capital improvements short‑term work program for regional review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kennesaw council hears debate over proposed 15-year incentives, $70,000 annual payment for Lacey 2 development

Council discusses widely divergent appraisals for right‑of‑way at 2995–2997 North Main Street; suggests midpoint offer

Kennesaw moves several routine items to consent; council reviews event road closures, election contract and capital items