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Cherokee County delays downtown Canton land purchase pending environmental review
Summary
A proposed county purchase of 4.63 acres on North Street in downtown Canton was postponed after staff said a survey is incomplete and Phase I work identified potential contamination; commissioners agreed to defer action and consider a Phase II assessment contingent on closing.
Cherokee County officials postponed action Tuesday on a proposed purchase of 4.63 acres on North Street in downtown Canton after staff said a survey was incomplete and earlier environmental work flagged potential contamination.
County Manager (speaker 6) told the Board the item would be for a purchase “in the amount of $5,412,630 or a corresponding $500,000 donation towards improvements to Badger Creek Park for a net purchase price of $4,912,630 and to authorize the county manager to complete the transaction.” He said the county has not yet received the required survey and recommended postponing the purchase to the April 21 meeting.
The manager also asked the board to approve a limited Phase II site assessment by NOVA Engineering for $25,850 to investigate recognized environmental conditions identified during a Phase I: “Back in the winter, NOVA conducted a phase 1 environmental site assessment for the subject property that identified some issues resulting in recognized environmental conditions ... there is some evidence of some ground water contamination,” he said, noting some nearby historical operations (a former cleaner and historical auto repair/vulcanizing activities) and surface staining that warrant further testing.
The Phase II report, staff said, would inform a submission to the Georgia EPD to pursue Brownfields protections for the property so redevelopment would not carry future liabilities. County staff recommended any Phase II work proceed “upon notice to proceed be given upon county closing, sale of purchase of property.”
Commissioners agreed to postpone the purchase to the April 21 meeting and to discuss property details further in executive session. No formal vote on the purchase price or the Phase II contract was taken at the work session.
Next steps: staff will provide the outstanding survey, and the board will revisit both the acquisition and the requested Phase II assessment at the April 21 meeting; if pursued, the Phase II would be used to evaluate groundwater and soil conditions and support any Brownfields application to Georgia EPD.
