Dear Community,
We appreciate your persistence and passion in the endeavor to protect this high valued forest. I wanted to update you all on the 40 acre forested property at 4994 Rockbridge Rd.

UPDATES:

The zoning from R-100 to R-60 was denied in January thanks to all of your hard work. The developer purchased the land from the Bioust Family but as of now and according to conversations with The Conservation Fund has had with the developer, he has not put the land on market or begun the process for construction.

At the end of June, 2023, Julia, Amber and I met with Commissioner Bradshaw, Chuck Ellis, Brandon White, and others within Dekalb County government as well as with two representatives of the environmental groups Eco-Addendum and The Conservation Fund, Kathryn Kolb and Roberta Moore,  to discuss potential options for purchase of the land at 4994 Rockbridge Rd.

The Conservation Fund, an organization that works with governmental entities to buy land for immediate protection has committed to purchasing the land from the developer, Gus Abalo, at fair market value, if Dekalb County agrees to the low interest loan and to purchase the property from The Conservation Fund within a reasonable amount of time (usually a year). Dekalb County and specifically, Commissioner Steve Bradshaw, has been receptive and open to conversations with us. He asked for a proposal from The Conservation Fund which was promptly provided to him. You can view it here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/f1qdzw33fpi7zr51cyhg2/TCF-Proposal_4994-Rockbridge-Rd_6.30.23-1.pdf?rlkey=1uot8gsdyej6gohm6obqyy9kz&dl=0

Also included in the proposal is a perspective on the ecological value of the land by Kathryn Kolb, it has been confirmed that this is an old growth forest with many 150-200 year old trees.

Roberta Moore, of The Conservation Fund, spoke with the office of Commissioner Bradshaw just 2 weeks ago, when the Commissioner reported that he has not reviewed the proposal.

ACTION:

With only a little time left before the Developer does something with the land (sell or develop), we must bring this land and this incredible opportunity into the light for Commissioner Bradshaw and CEO Michael Thurmond to see. Will you email CEO Thurmond and Commissioner Bradshaw let them know the urgency of protecting one of the last largest pieces of forested land in Dekalb County? 

Two sample letters are below. Please copy and paste and/or personalize as you wish. Thank you so much!!

Sample Letters:
To: CEOMichaelThurmond@dekalbcountyga.gov

Dear CEO Thurmond,
I am writing to you in regard to the 40 acre forested property at 4994 Rockbridge Rd within Commissioner Bradshaw's district 4. As surrounding communities, we have been fighting to preserve the 40 acres. We have, with Commissioner Bradshaw's help, have successfully gotten upzoning denied in urgent belief that something better can come of this large and high-value greenspace. We are working side-by-side with several environmental groups, including the Conservation Fund, which has committed to be in negotiation with Dekalb County to purchase the land under a low interest loan in order that the County may make this purchase now, before it is too late.
We appreciate your time and energy to make our communities safe, beautiful, and hospitable. This land has immense ecological and recreational value as analyzed by The Conservation Fund, Eco-Addendum, The Southeastern Trust for Parks and Land, and The South River Watershed Alliance. I have attached the proposal The Conservation Fund provided. Please see below. 

Thank you very much, 

To: srbradshaw@dekalbcountyga.gov

Dear Commissioner Steve Bradshaw,
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to your constituents, and thank you for continually listening to our concerns regarding the property at 4994 Rockbridge Rd. We are aware of the incredible opportunity Dekalb County has at its fingertips with The Conservation Fund - to protect and provide a high valued ecological and recreational area to the community at large. With support from your constituents, we urge you to take action and prioritize this land due to the immediate threat of losing it. Please consider the proposal written by The Conservation Fund.
Thank you again for your energy and time,