About Sandy Springs reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2013)
COMMUNITY Roswell Sandy Springs Norcross Tucker Georgia Court of Appeals will hear cemetery case Descendants of a Confederate vet eran will soon appear before the Geor gia Court of Appeals to argue that the veteran’s family cemetery should be returned to them. On Nov. 19 the state Court of Ap peals agreed to consider the appeal filed by the descendants of Judge John Heard, a founding member of the Sandy Springs community. Heard’s 1-acre cemetery is located at 0 Heards Drive. The descendants are trying to take control of the cemetery away from Christopher Mills. Mills, who is not a member of the Heard family, owns the property because it was mistaken ly sold at a tax auction. His in-laws paid the back taxes and obtained the property in order to preserve the cem etery. They later sold the property to Mills for $1. Mills wants to build a home on an undeveloped portion of the land. Mills obtained an archaeo logical survey that determined there are no graves on the spot where he wants to build. Mills and his attorney have repeat edly declined requests for comment about this case. Mills applied for a building per- BRIEFS mit, which the city of Sandy Springs denied because the property con tains a cemetery. Mills sued the city in 2012. Members of the Heard family filed a motion to intervene. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Adams ruled against the descendants’ motion for summa ry judgment, which would’ve giv en them control of the property, but agreed to let the Court of Appeals Re view her decision. City accepting award nominations Each year the city of Sandy Springs presents its Humanitarian Award to an individual who lives or works in the city and “embodies [Dr. Martin Luther] King’s history of character and service.” The city is accepting nominations for the 2014 recipient, who will be honored Jan. 20 at the city’s annual Martin Luther King Day event. To submit a nomination, vis it http://www.sandyspringsga.gov/ MLK SANDY5PRINGSGA.GOV Rafael Celedon wanted to build a 15 x 183 foot tree house in the Talbot Colony neighborhood for his two children. After it was partially constructed, Celedon learned he needed a permit, due to size. City Council debates tree house BY DAN WHISHT danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net There’s no matter too small for a zon ing dispute in Sandy Springs. Even a tree house can draw attention. During the Nov. 19 City Council meeting, council members spent about 30 minutes debating a zoning applica tion for a tree house presented by Rafa el Celedon, who lives in the Talbot Col ony neighborhood. Celedon’s property is one of several in that area built near Ga. 400. Celedon wanted to build a tree house — technically it’s a playhouse, but the council used those terms interchange ably — for his kids, who are aged 9 and 11. Celedon has been working to get the tree house approved since August. It was already partially constructed, but Celedon learned that he needed a permit. By the time he got the permit, with some restrictions, on Nov. 19, Cel edon said he would withdraw the appli cation. “It’s been a long painful process for me,” he told City Council. Patrice Dickerson, manager of plan ning and zoning for the city, told city council that playhouses that are no larg er than 120 square feet do not require a permit. The property is 15 feet high and 183 square feet, according to the appli cation. Celedon’s neighbor, Cynthia Wilkins, requested a 30-day deferral to address some of her concerns, and City Coun cil briefly considered a motion to defer for 60 days. City Councilman Chip Collins said that was unnecessary and recommend ed approval, with a few conditions to screen the property from the neighbors. “To my mind we’ve already spent too much time and effort on this,” Collins said. “I certainly don’t think it’s wor thy of a deferral of 30 or 60 days. Ei ther grown people can figure this out, or we can’t.” Other council members agreed with Collins, so they voted to approve the permit. But when a reporter caught up with Celedon outside of the meeting, he said he was giving up on his plans to build the tree house on the property. INTERIOR DESIGN FURNITURE CABINETRY MOULDINGS DOORS FLOORING Perimeter Place | 1231 Ashford Crossing | Dunwoody 770.673.0721 myinsidesign.com esigrc ss www.ReporterNewspapers.net | NOV. 29 — DEC. 12,2013 | 7
