Critics Question Possible Sale of PVC Farm Property, Process

Sunday night, a lively audience at the Dunwoody Homeowners Association meeting questioned the possible sale of the ‘PVC Farm’ property, how the information became public and the process.

This past weekend, it was leaked looking to put single-family homes or townhomes on the property.

DHA Board President Bill Grossman read an email exchange between he and Mayor Mike Davis.

Davis, in an email, was quick to say he could not provide any information.

“The entire topic is still being discussed at executive session,” Davis wrote in an email, read by Grossman Sunday night. “All you will be doing is discussing each other’s rumors. Everyone on the council and any city staff members who have been in these meetings are forbidden from discussing it.”

Davis did say he'd try to keep the DHA in the loop for 

Grossman responded by asking Davis that the council keep in mind the Georgetown Master Plan, which emphasized owner occupied housing and senior-friendly housing. He said the city could mandate design rules and high quality exterior finishing materials to help such projects.

Dunwoody resident Bob Lundsten questioned whether the city could actually meet in executive session and sell the land without bidding it out.

“Since its city property, I don’t think the city has the right to pick and choose ‘I want to sell to John Wieland homes, or I want to sell to Bill grant homes, because I like that developer,’” Lundsten said. “I don’t think that’s their option. They’ve got to get the highest and maximum return on that land value for the $5 million they spent for the 16 acres.”

Further, he asked, does he city have an obligation to present development plans to the public prior to making a decision?

Former City Councilman Robert Wittenstein also wondered how the city could proceed, saying the state already has rules in place for selling assets.

“I think there’s some state laws that prohibit sweetheart deals,” he said. “I think if the city is going to dispose of city assets or city property, I think there are some restrictions that require some bidding.”

Wittenstein and Dunwoody resident Heyward Wescott both brought up the neighborhood expectation of the land being a park, or at least partial parkland.

“The master plan included a five or six acre park there,” Wittenstein said. “If the park disappears altogether, I think that will be a problem.”