Construction activity for Overlook Park at Morgan Falls has unearthed a farm house hidden beneath all that kudzu and bamboo forest. The National Park Service recommends that the city complete an archaeological and cultural landscape assessment of the site, stabilize and preserve the stacked-stone chimneys and preserve remnant landscape features for the park located just above the Morgan Falls Dam along the Chattahoochee River. The stacked-stone chimney is believed to be a remnant from the William H. Power House. There is also a second stacked-stone chimney that has a porch stoop. The character of the chimneys and building materials suggest the presence of a mid-nineteenth century wood framed house. This is the site of the house occupied by William H. Power (1819-1885) who was the son of pioneer Joseph Power (1780-1875) and nephew of James Power (1790-1870). James Power had a river ferry which lead to the naming of Powers Ferry Road.

The City Council will hear the Park Service's recommendation at their June 16 meeting and the council will decide action concerning the preservation of the site. NPS recommends that an archaeological assessment be completed which typically takes several days. Sandy Springs Conservancy has offered funding for this archaeological assessment. Support is needed to preserve the historical site at Morgan Falls. The city's current park plans have not incorporated preserving these archeological features.

For more information please contact: TochieBlad@SandySpringsCouncil.org

Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology is applying for a rezoning application at 5395 Roswell Road, at the corner of Glenridge Drive. The applicant was heard before the Planning Commission on 5/21 and was granted a 60 day extension to conduct a parking study. The applicant wants to increase the current size of the building from 32,000 sq. feet to 42,000 sq. feet. The city's planning
dept. has determined the applicant needs 148 parking spaces and they currently are providing for only 81.

Primary concerns from the neighborhoods are:

-Parking shortage spilling over into neighboring businesses and residential areas
-Increase in traffic at an intersection that has many accidents
-Poor maintenance history from the applicant who has owned the property since 2005.

SSCN has been working with the neighborhoods and has gotten the applicant to agree to the following:

-No overnight stays
-No residential use of the property
-No Narconon meetings on site

For more info: MarkSampl@SandySpringsCouncil.org