Friday March 29th, 2024 10:56AM

Helen board fails to reach consensus on Alpine coaster proposal

HELEN — Hampered by the absence of three of its seven members and one member present being ineligible to vote on the issue, the Helen Planning, Design and Review Board failed to reach consensus on a recommendation regarding a conditional use to allow construction of an Alpine coaster next door to city hall.

No formal presentation was made on the rezoning and conditional use application for the property on South Main Street between Helen City Hall/Helen Police Department and Paul's Steakhouse.

That confused one resident who lives above the proposed development, who said she was being asked to comment on only what she's heard rather than information learned firsthand.

Several residents were vocal in their opposition to the single-car coaster attraction proposed by Terry Sims on 10.16 acres currently owned by Arcus Barker. That attraction could have up to 30 coaster cars running simultaneously during peak times.

Residents cited the potential detriment to their property values, the loss of their peace and quiet, and added traffic on Alpenrosen Strasse, the narrow paved road leading up the mountain. Sims designed his 50-space parking lot entering and exiting from Alpenrosen.

The property currently is zoned R-2 residential, which allows for two homes per acre. The proposed zoning is C-3, conditional amusement park use under C-3 highway commercial property.

Of the 10.16-acre total site, 3.46 acres would be developed for public use, including 0.50 acres for pavement and sidewalks, 0.10 acres for buildings (2,724 square feet), and 2.76 acres of natural woods, according to a site plan on file at Helen City Hall. That leaves 6.70 acres of undisturbed woods on the property.

The track itself would be a on 10- to 20-foot cleared area, Sims said.

While many spoke in opposition to the application, several people spoke in favor.

David Wilkins said he went to Tennessee to ride a coaster like the one proposed in Helen, showing a picture to those in the audience.

"I just think we all have to learn to work together," Wilkins told those gathered.

Wilkins cited the two million-plus tourists who visit Helen each year as reason for additional family-friendly attractions that bring people to Georgia's Alpine Village year-around, not just between Labor Day and Memorial Day.

"Everything near it is commercial," said Helen resident Dona K. Burke, who said she lives in the "sister house" to the one on the subject property.

"The white house", as the unoccupied home on the property has come to be known, is a carryover from the city's former life as a sawmill town, and most locals say they want to see it preserved rather than removed.

"No one has lived in that house for 24 years now," Burke said.

Burke had positive things to say about Sims, noting, "I've never known Terry to do anything that he didn't do 200 percent."

Plans submitted by Sims call for leaving "the white house" intact on the property and constructing the proposed attraction around it.

Greear asked Barker if he considered developing the 10.16 acres as residential.

"My conclusion is do you want the mountain stripped?" Barker said. "That's what residential wants to do. They want to tear 'the white house' down, they want to strip the mountain down cutting roads and all that. What is that going to look like from town?"

Burke said the property where Sims wants to build the Alpine coaster would look "like Hiawassee does" if the mountainside is stripped.

"I've also looked at everybody in town wants to keep 'the white house'," Barker said. "If you'll notice in this contract with Terry, he's going to save 'the white house'. Most people want to tear the dang thing down."

Barker insisted Sims' proposal is the best option for the property, and will help support downtown Helen.

"For the least impact and for the most help for the city, what Terry is proposing I think is the best thing for the city," Barker said. "You've got to realize and I know this is disturbing some people, but you've got 700 feet on the main street in Helen, Ga., that on both sides is commercial."

The Alpine coaster proposed by Sims would be the first of its kind in Georgia. There currently are 25 in the United States and 250 worldwide.

The Helen PDRB generally makes a recommendation to the city commission on rezoning applications.

Helen PDRB member David Greear said he is not opposed to the proposed coaster or to developer Terry Sims, but rather to the proposed site.

Greear asked Sims if another parcel would work, or if the track could be situated differently on the parcel next to city hall.

"That's where it's got to be," Sims said. "Otherwise, it will not work."

Greear made a motion to recommend denial of the application.

PDRB member Steve Fowler immediately made a motion to recommend approval of the application.

After a discussion of whether the PDRB needed to follow Robert's Rules of Order of the motion dying for lack of a second before a subsequent motion could be made, City Attorney Carl Free said the PDRB is not bound by Robert's Rules of Order in this instance with only three members eligible to vote.

PDRB Chairperson Catherine Cleiman could have led the group to a vote by seconding either motion, but chose not to do so.

"I am so conflicted … I can't second both of them," Cleiman said, before deciding to abstain from the vote.

Even though the group reached no consensus on recommending or denying Sims' application, they did come up with a list of conditions to be forwarded to the city commission for its consideration.

Those conditions included:

♦ Sims paying a traffic control person to be in place during hours of operation on weekends and holidays;

♦ Setting operational hours that don't go past 10 p.m. in the summer and 8 p.m. in the winter;

♦ Installing some sort of noise barrier between the coaster and homes located farther up the mountain;

♦ Restricting the type lighting allowed on site, if not already covered by city ordinance; and

♦ Requiring some sort of historic exhibit addressing the significance of "the white house" and the property in general.

Helen PDRB members Bill Miles, Ralph Hofer and Charlie Knowles did not attend Tuesday morning's public hearing and PDRB meeting. PDRB member Danna Lee was unable to vote due to owning adjoining property.

A second public hearing on the proposal will be conducted during the next city commission meeting, set for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3. A vote could come at that meeting.

  • Associated Categories: Homepage, Business News, Local/State News, Politics, Georgia News
  • Associated Tags: Helen, City of Helen, Alpine Coaster, Georgia's Alpine Village, Helen Planning, Design and Review Board
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