DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb County Zoning Board of Appeals voted against an effort to stop the construction of Atlanta’s Public Safety Training Center.
The Atlanta Police Foundation is building the facility on 85 acres in DeKalb County near Intrenchment Creek.
Wednesday, Jon Schwartz, an attorney specializing in environmental law, spoke during the Board of Appeals virtual meeting in an effort to stop construction.
He argued the project is pushing too much sediment into Intrenchment Creek, threatening aquatic life.
Kamau Franklin is an activist with Community Movement Builders. He was watching the meeting closely.
“This project is operating in violation of the law. This runoff, this sediment, is continuing to pollute a river that’s already being polluted by the city and by the county. Nothing has been done. The Clean Water Act has been violated,” Franklin said.
Attorney Leah Ward Seals represents the DeKalb County Planning Director and staff who approved the Atlanta Police Foundation’s application to build the training facility.
“They can’t show the director or staff acted contrary to the law,” Ward Seals said.
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She told the board that the land development permit was issued only after it was carefully reviewed by experienced professionals and that it took 11 months to review it.
Ward Seals said the permit underwent several revisions and corrections and obtained the blessing of the State Environmental Protection Division.
She said the EPD authorized it after reviewing documents including the site’s erosion control plan.
The board agreed unanimously that Schwartz did not meet the burden of proof necessary to show the planning staff made any missteps when approving the development permit. Although, one member, Dan Wright, confessed he has concerns with the project placement.
Schwartz also filed for a Georgia administrative law judge to review the permit process and decide if any runoff sediment violations will shut it down.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ office released a statement Wednesday, saying:
“I thank the members of the DeKalb County Zoning Board of Appeals for their diligent review of this appeal and for their unanimous decision to uphold the permit. This project has undergone over a year of review and has received sign off from the Atlanta City Council, the DeKalb County Department of Planning and Sustainability, the DeKalb County CEO and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (EPD). A challenge to the project was also turned back by a Fulton County judge. Every part of this project has been scrutinized and has been found to be fully compliant with the law and all environmental protection requirements.
“Community input has greatly shaped the plans for this project, and we are continuing to listen about what enhancements can be made as we move forward. I invite everyone to visit ATLTrainingCenter.com to learn more and get engaged.”
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