Sandy Springs To Consider Eminent Domain To Acquire Land For City Center

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The Sandy Springs City Council will consider utilizing eminent domain to acquire five parcels for its City Center project.

The council will consider taking the action during its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2, which will start at 6 p.m. at Sandy Springs City Hall.

The parcels — 237 Johnson Ferry Road, 6201 Roswell Road, 6215 Roswell Road, 6219 Roswell Road and 260 Mount Vernon Highway — all fall within the scope of the City Center Master Plan.

The property at 237 Johnson Ferry Road is currently home to Goodwill Industries of North Georgia and is owned by Flambeau Realty, Inc. and Straus Irma Realty Corp. Goodwill has since announced plans to relocate to Sandy Springs Village at the corner of Roswell and Abernathy roads at the beginning of the year.

The remaining parcels are owned by W.B. Holdings Triangle, LLC and Adam Orkin is the registered agent. Tenants on the property are Eddie’s Automotive at 260 Mount Vernon Highway; Ruby Vapor LLC at 6201 Roswell Road; and Mattress USA at 6219 Roswell Road.

To the city’s knowledge, no tenant is leasing space at 6215 Roswell Road. Additionally, CBS Outdoor LCC/CBS Outdoor Group LLC have a billboard located within the property area.

According to city council agenda documents, the owner of the Johnson Ferry Road land has declined the city’s offer to purchase the parcel for $3.9 million and W.B. Holdings Triangle LLC has also rejected the city’s offer to acquire its parcels for $3.4 million.

City Attorney Wendall Willard is seeking authorization to use eminent domain to acquire all the parcels if negotiations continue to fail.

Sandy Springs leaders will also consider amending its “Carry-Out Alcoholic Beverage Unlawful” ordinance.

The amendment would allow patrons — who’ve purchased a meal and consumed a portion of wine at an establishment licensed to sell wine for consumption on its premises — to ”remove one partially consumed bottle of wine off premises if the bottle has been securely resealed by the licensee, placed in a bag or other container that is secured in such a manner that it is visibly apparent if the container has been subsequently opened or tampered with and has a dated receipt for the bottle of wine and meal attached by the licensee.”

The council’s full agenda can be viewed online.

Sandy Springs City Hall is at 7840 Roswell Road and the meeting will take place at the City Council Chambers in Building 500.