Villa Rica council approves right-of-way purchases after public objections to Parkway plan
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Summary
After public comments opposing a proposed road through long-held properties, the Villa Rica City Council approved purchases of two parcels for right-of-way and easements following an executive session; residents and a council member had earlier publicly debated a letter of intent tied to the project.
The Villa Rica City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 14 to approve purchase of two parcels needed for right-of-way and easements tied to the Villa Rica Parkway project after discussing the matter in executive session.
The vote followed an extended public-comment period in which several Ward 1 residents objected to the road and said they did not want their land taken or to have a road run through their properties. "We don't want the road," Alita Farmer said, identifying herself as a property owner on Anderson Road whose family has owned the property for 111 years. Pam White and other speakers urged the council to treat residents with respect and said they felt the city had not communicated adequately about proposed acquisitions.
The mayor and council then debated whether to display and read aloud a letter of intent that a council member, during updates, said had been submitted in 2024. Councilman Montahan read the document from the screen and characterized it as a proposal in which the seller requested $1,000,000 for a one-acre floodplain parcel, asked the city to install driveway curb cuts and pay taxes, and included a $30,000 agent commission. Montahan said the seller’s agent had set terms including a $10,000 deposit and a deadline for acceptance. Council members exchanged objections about airing the document in an open meeting; Councilman Warmoth said he was "very uncomfortable" that the letter was put on screen during the meeting.
City staff later noted the document was described as an abandoned offer and not subject to open-meetings restrictions; the city attorney confirmation was read into the record by a council member and staff.
After the council recessed to executive session for discussions related to property acquisition and personnel, it returned to regular session and a motion was offered to approve "the purchase of partial number V0501556 and the purchase of right of way and easement for parcel number V0501557." The motion passed unanimously.
The council did not provide detailed purchase prices or a parcel-by-parcel funding breakdown during the open session. Several speakers during public comment asked for clearer communication and for private or town-hall meetings to address resident concerns. Mayor Leslie McPherson and council members said staff would continue right-of-way and temporary easement acquisitions as part of the ongoing Parkway work.
What happens next: staff indicated right-of-way and temporary-easement acquisition work is ongoing for the Parkway project and that additional property transactions may be pursued as needed. The council did not adopt a new public schedule for further negotiations during the meeting.
Votes at a glance Motion to approve purchase of partial parcel V0501556 and purchase of right-of-way and easement for parcel V0501557 — approved (unanimous).