With a vote on Tuesday night, Gainesville City Council will lease a small piece of property from the State of Georgia to provide for additional parking at Lake Lanier Olympic Park.
The piece of land is small - just 1.32 acres - but the city is hoping it eventually can become part of the master plan for the park.
City Manager Bryan Lackey told council members at their Thursday morning work session the land is located just in front of the boathouse on Clarks Bridge Road.
"When you're out at the park, you'd probably never know it's a separate piece of property - it looks like it's just part of the park," Lackey said. "It's actually a remnant piece of Don Carter State Park...of course, Don Carter State Park is a few miles up the road from Lake Lanier Olympic Park."
Lackey and City Attorney Abb Hayes worked with the State Properties Commission on the short-term lease agreement, which calls for the city to lease the land for the next year.
"What this does is allow the State Properties Commission to start working directly with the park itself, the park staff, to potentially get into a longer-term lease," Lackey said.
The conditions of the lease call for parking on the property; no structures can be built on the land. Cost for the lease is $10.
"That's the typical [agreement] to show that it's not for free, they are charging something for it. I think state law won't allow them to say they're giving it to someone," Lackey said following the work session.
The resolution will be on the consent agenda for the council's voting session on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building on Queen City Parkway.
