To the editor:
The real issue underlying the Galloway athletic center proposal [“Galloway offers to reduce parking in sports field debate,” Sandy Springs Reporter, Nov. 27-Dec. 6] is not parking spaces, curb cuts, or even traffic when games or matches end. The issue is noise.
What is now an enclave of relative silence will turn, at least six months a year, into the sound of tennis balls, aluminum softball bats, shouted exhortations and instructions, and on game days sound-speaker player introductions and the roar of the crowds (even small crowds roar).
One major reason we sought incorporation as a city in the first place was to get better local control of land use – and principally to preserve neighborhoods. Since then, our city has drawn a red line on High Point Road at least once before – when a synagogue sought to build on the west side of the road. (The religion itself was not at issue except for one minor thing – unlike Galloway’s proposal, an orthodox shul would actually have heightened demand for housing within walking distance.)
Perhaps a better analogy was Pace’s attempt to expand its footprint for tennis courts. Pace was stopped. Galloway would put more neighbors closer to its courts than the Pace attempt. Why should Sandy Springs disturb a neighborhood for an Atlanta school when Atlanta would not do so?
For Galloway this is a cost issue – there’s plenty of land around; the question is price. For us, it is quality of home life. Let’s wish Galloway well in finding an alternative site.
Bill Rothschild