Barrow BOC OK’s funding for new convention center
BY KRISTI REED
The Northeast Georgia Arts and Convention Center (NGACC) moved a step closer to opening its doors as Barrow County commissioners approved a request by project planners to seek funding sources for the facility.
Dr. Ron Saunders, superintendent of Barrow County Schools and chair of the NGACC governing board, presented the funding request to the board at the November 27 meeting.
“I am excited about the possibility of making Barrow County an even more exciting place to live,” Saunders said. “This is something that Barrow County citizens have voted for.”
The facility will be located at the intersection of Hwy. 316 and Hwy. 53. Plans for the convention center call for a 40,000 square foot exhibit hall with a seating capacity of 5,000. There will be a 750 seat theatre as well as office space for the Barrow Chamber of Commerce and the facility staff.
Keith Lee, Barrow County director of operations, briefed commissioners regarding the costs of constructing the center. Current projections place the total facility cost at $19.9 million. The budgeted amount for the performing arts center is $7.25 million or $290 per square foot. The convention center estimate is $ 7.5 million or $150 per square foot. Site development costs are expected to run $270,833 an acre for a total of $3.25 million.
In addition to actual construction costs, the NGACC budget projects expenditures of $400,000 for equipment and $1.5 million in engineering and consulting costs.
Several citizens expressed support for the convention center. Drama teacher Eleanor Hasty told commissioners that the facility is needed by the community.
“I represent a large number of very talented students who deserve better,” Hasty said. “We need this center for our kids. They deserve a place to perform. The community deserves a performance venue. I am here to tell you how much we need this.”
Thomas Dean, a junior at Winder-Barrow High School, also asked the commissioners to approve the funding request.
“The fine arts program in Barrow County is definitely one of the best,” Dean said. “But, we are missing a place to perform. There are so many of us who would like to see this facility built that there is no reason why it shouldn’t be. A fine arts center would be a fine addition for Barrow County.”
Chairman Doug Garrison, who serves as vice chair of the NGACC governing board, told commissioners that the NGACC board would seek funding through loans or by bonds to supplement the $4.5 million in SPLOST funds currently allocated to the project. The final decision on how best to fund the project would rest with the commissioners.
Construction of the convention center is slated to begin in September of 2008 with an estimated completion date of December 2009.
In other business at the meeting, board members:
•approved an amendment to the Unified Development Code to extend the Highway Corridor Overlay District. The amendment removed the 1920s architectural requirement and added a requirement for review by an architect.
•approved a special use permit to allow a parcel of a master planned development on Tom Miller Road to be designated as a branch of the Winder-Barrow YMCA. Attorney John Stell, speaking on behalf of the applicants, said the recreation area would be a great benefit for the neighborhood and the Barrow county community.
•approved a special use permit to allow construction of a 6,400 square foot telecommunications facility at 1385 Harmony Grove Church Road. The T-Mobile tower would not exceed 250 feet in height. Simon Marshall, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said T-Mobile has received numerous complaints about cell phone coverage in the area and is seeking to address those problems.
•ratified a mediation agreement with the City Of Auburn to resolve issues relating to annexations and the provision of services.
•approved the purchase of a 1,500 GPM stainless steel quint unit by Barrow County Fire and Emergency Services. The cost of the aerial apparatus will be $508,711.
•appointed Sheree Schenck to the Keep Barrow Beautiful board.
•authorized the display of historical documents, including the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, Preamble to the Georgia Constitution, the Magna-Carta, the National Motto and the Ten Commandments. The display would be located at the Barrow County annex and would be funded through private donations.
•tabled a request to rezone 57 acres on Loganville Hwy. as a master planned development.
•unanimously denied a request to rezone 1.94 acres at the intersection of Hog Mountain Road and Perkins Road from AR to C2 for the purpose of building a retail center with gasoline pumps. Neighboring property owner Joseph Cofer asked commissioners to deny the request saying the proposed buffer reduction from 50 feet to five feet would have a detrimental impact on his property. Applicant Jackie Kinlaw told commissioners it would not be economically feasible to construct the building with the variance.
•approved a request to rezone 1.53 acres at 92 Giles Road in order to allow the property owner to cut a right of way for the property.
•approved rezoning 4.5 acres at 852 Murphy Road to R-1for the purpose of establishing four residential lots.
•approved the removal of a zoning buffer for commercial property located at the intersection of Holsenbeck School Road and Hwy. 11.
•approved a request to reduce the required waiting period for rezoning the same piece of property in order to allow a less intensive rezoning for the property located at Midland Avenue and Hwy 8. The applicant, Ali Sims, is requesting the property be zoned C-2 instead of M-1.
