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Board pulls 3 Oaks Pond park proposal after concerns about using stormwater funds
Summary
Staff proposed grading and piping 3 Oaks Pond to create a roughly 1.5‑acre community park; several board members objected to using stormwater/SPLOST funds for recreation while other flood‑prone neighborhoods remain unaddressed, so staff agreed to pull the item and return with a prioritized project list.
City staff presented a proposal to repurpose 3 Oaks Pond (Pheasant & Meadowlark) by extending pipe, filling ditches and grading the site to create a roughly 1.5‑acre community area for passive park use. The design was prepared by Lanier Engineering and staff said the pond’s original drainage issue had been diverted to Lake Cornelia, making the site available for repurposing.
Several board members challenged using stormwater funds (SPLOST) for what they characterized as a recreation project, arguing the optics were poor while ongoing flooding problems at Valencia and South Madison remain unresolved. One board member said the item ‘‘is not a stormwater project’’ and urged staff to prioritize projects that address active flooding and drainage problems before approving recreational conversions.
Staff acknowledged the concerns and agreed to pull the item, promising to return with a prioritization of stormwater projects, an accounting of available funds and the stage of design for other projects so the board and commission can assess tradeoffs. The board did not vote to approve funding for the 3 Oaks Pond repurposing at the Oct. 9 meeting.
