UNDATED - The chairman of the Forsyth County Commission is expressing his disappointment in the decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to turn over operation of Bethel Park to the YMCA of metropolitan Atlanta.
"I am disappointed in the Corps' action," Charles Laughinghouse declared in a brief statement issued about midday Thursday. "There are rules in place but it appears the corps has chosen to ignore them. The Board of Commissioners will meet in executive session on June 10 (next Tuesday) to discuss a possible course of action."
The corps announced Wednesday that the recreation development plan submitted by the YMCA had been selected for the 62-acre park located on Lake Lanier in Forsyth County.
The Forsyth County Commission had countered the YMCA proposal with one of its own.
"An interdisciplinary team was formed with members from Mobile, Nashville and Savannah districts to evaluate the development proposals submitted by the YMCA and Forsyth County," said E. Patrick Robbins, Chief Public Affairs Officer, Mobile District. "The team visited the park and conducted an objective and very detailed evaluation of the two proposals to determine which one was in the best interest of the public."
Forsyth County had proposed to develop the site to serve the public by
providing a campground area for recreational vehicles, a day use area for
general use, an environmental education area for students from local schools
and a boat docking area.
The YMCA proposed to develop a cabin-based resident camp that would serve the public by offering structured outdoor experiences to youth, schools, families and community organizations in the metropolitan Atlanta area.
"In doing their evaluation the team carefully followed the Corp's mandated seven evaluation criteria and felt the YMCA's proposal ranked significantly higher in three of the evaluated areas," Robbins continued. "These were public interest, market study and feasibility."
The YMCA proposal indicated a long term $20 million capital improvement investment with a phasing plan for the development and a detailed plan on capital funding for the facilities. They substantiated their figures and projections based on data from ongoing operations at similar YMCA facilities. The team considered the YMCA's successful management of these facilities indicated a high probability of success at Bethel Park and long term benefits to the public.
"Issues of transportation and traffic patterns were the focus of many of the public comments received during the process," Robbins said. "Traffic studies by both entities project an increase in vehicle traffic in the Bethel Park area. However, neither development plan would cause significant traffic impacts based on the studies."
In a separate action and prior to choosing the YMCA's plan, Mobile District completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) resulting in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the action of turning the park's management
over to a non-Federal entity. Such a lease constitutes a change from the 1987
Master Plan developed by the Corps for Bethel Park, which was originally
designated as a Corps managed campground for approximately 220 recreational vehicles.
"Environmentally, this was determined not to be a unique area," Robbins said. "There is a large amount of similar natural area around Lake Lanier that is well protected. Bethel Park has always been designated by the Corps for recreational development."
...
On the Web:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/pd/Pd1.htm
Friday
October 11th, 2024
6:20PM
