Neighbors urge county to keep Patriot Park triangle as civic space; petition cites traffic concerns

Multiple residents said the small triangular parcel adjacent to Patriots Park should remain civic space rather than be sold to a developer. Speakers emphasized frequent weekend parking shortages and morning and evening congestion on Bells Ferry, Victory Drive and Kellogg Creek Road.

"It's not like it's a stream buffer...it's usable," said Representative Jordan Ridley, who urged the board to enforce the overlay plan as adopted in 2008 and to update the plan if needed. Resident Rachel Brown told the board a petition opposing the townhomes had "596 signatures, including mine," and asked commissioners to factor broad neighborhood opposition into their decision.

Other speakers provided local observations of traffic back‑ups and crash history, and homeowners said county‑owned property paid for by tax dollars should not be sold absent clear public benefit. Developer and some commissioners countered the overlay already allows dense residential use on much of the land and that Parks staff considered the specific triangle parcel not usable for park improvements as currently configured; those proceeds could be used for other park upgrades.

The board did not decide the redesignation at this meeting and instead postponed consideration until Dec. 17 to allow additional review and public notice.

Why it matters: The debate pits park preservation and neighborhood traffic concerns against a developer’s plan and staff recommendations that selling the parcel could fund park improvements.