An Oak Grove business and some nearby residents are gearing up to protest DeKalb County's plans to condemn land for a series of right-of-ways and temporary construction easements as it prepares to redesign the intersection of Lavista and Oak Grove roads.
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners is slated to consider a series of proposals Tuesday from the public works department to take small slivers of land near the center and the intersection.
Melissa Connor, co-owner of Ella Guru Record Shop in the center, emailed nearby residents this week, asking for help to pressure the county.
From the board of commissioners' agenda:
D3. Resolution, Order and Declaration of Taking – SR236/Lavista Road and Oak Grove Road, 2741 and 2747 Lavista Road; 0.100 Acres of Right of Way, 0.049 Acres of Temporary Construction Easement; Owner(s): Kantoes & Sons, LLC (Accepted to the Regular BOC Meeting Agenda)
D4. Resolution, Order and Declaration of Taking – SR236/Lavista Road and Oak Grove Road, 2781 Lavista Road; 0.014 Acres of Right of Way, 0.068 Acres of Temporary Construction Easement; Owner(s): DWAG Decatur, LLC (Accepted to the Regular BOC Meeting Agenda)
D5. Resolution, Order and Declaration of Taking – SR236/Lavista Road and Oak Grove Road, 2788 Lavista Road; 0.069 Acres of Right of Way, 0.047 Acres of Temporary Construction Easement; Owner(s): Jack H. Speir (Accepted to the Regular BOC Meeting Agenda)
In her email, Connor expressed concerns that the road improvements would shrink the already cramped center's parking lot. (Though she added District 2 Commissioner Jeff Rader told her the lot would be re-striped and no spots would be lost.) She also expressed concern about the size of the project, which includes a tree-lined median in front of the Davis Oaks townhomes on Lavista Road.
Connor said she will be representing other business owners from the center Tuesday.