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Board pulls 3 Oaks Pond repurposing plan after concerns about using stormwater funds for recreation
Summary
Stormwater staff proposed grading and piping 3 Oaks Pond and repurposing the site as a small community park; several board members questioned the use of stormwater funds for recreational amenities and asked staff to return with a prioritized list of stormwater projects and available funds.
City stormwater staff presented a proposal to grade, pipe and fill low areas at 3 Oaks Pond (Pheasant & Meadowlark) so the roughly 1.5-acre site could be repurposed as a passive community park. Staff said Lanier Engineering produced the design and that diverting flow to Lake Cornelia resolved the pond’s historical drainage problems.
Several board members objected to spending stormwater funds on what they described as a recreational amenity, noting unresolved flooding projects in other neighborhoods (Valencia and South Madison) and asking about prioritization and available funding. The chair said the item looks more like a recreation project and expressed reluctance to move forward while other stormwater problems remain unaddressed. Staff said the design was intended to avoid recreating drainage issues and that other detention/park areas have been adapted for dual use.
After discussion, staff agreed to remove the item from the current action list and return with a prioritization of stormwater capital projects and a clear accounting of available funds. The board requested monthly capital-project updates so members can better understand project stages and funding availability before approving repurposing or new work.
Next steps: stormwater staff will provide a prioritized project list, estimated costs and available SPLOST or stormwater funds for the board’s review before any decision to use stormwater funds for recreation-related repurposing.
