SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Since July 2003, the Mount Vernon School and the Mount Vernon Woods HOA have had a land use agreement in place.
The contract expires in 2025, but some residents explain that plans to upgrade the property aren’t very “neighborly" -- as a new proposal would add football stadium lighting.
“We have multiple promises and multiple agreements with the school stating no lights, and they want to break that legal agreement,” said HOA president Kimberly Oliver.
The HOA president said one of the major points of contention centers around 70-foot high stadium-quality lighting the school wants to install.
“As you can see with the proximity to these homes, the Friday night experience with the proximity to these homes would have a major negative impact,” Oliver said.
The school is already in the process of getting the changes approved by the city -- by applying for a permit to install the lights.
One meeting has already taken place, and another one scheduled for Monday has been postponed.
HOA leaders said they plan to take action if the school moves forward with its plans to upgrade the field.
“The other option is to go to arbitration because we have a contract with the school. The third option is to try to negotiate a settlement,” Oliver said.
In an emailed statement, school leaders wrote in part:
“The Mount Vernon School has lived in the heart of Sandy Springs for more than 50 years. ... The School seeks a limited proposal to add LED lights to the Ron Hill Field. We have been in dialogue with our neighbors and are exploring measures to limit the impact on our neighbors in relation to lights and audio, security, and buffers along our property lines.”