Braves moving to Cobb County

The major issues we’ll be discussing as the story develops are the political aspects of the story. For now, the major political questions are:

1. What is the government/taxpayer funding mechanism?
2. Will Cobb County voters accept the secrecy that surrounded the deal?
3. Will traffic rear its ugly head as an impediment to the project’s completion or the reelection of Cobb County politicians who favor the stadium?

Government funding for the stadium?

One of the questions still somewhat unclear is what the government/taxpayer involvement will be, but an interview of Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott by the Marietta Daily Journal gives us a hint. Here’s the money quote:

Commissioner Bob Ott, who represents the area, said he only found out about the negotiations “about a week ago” but feels it’s a good deal for the county and its taxpayers.

“I think it’s going to move the Cumberland area in the direction that they’ve been trying to go for a long time,” Ott said. “Looking at the numbers, I think it’s an overall positive for Cobb County and a big economic boost.”

The new ball park falls within the boundaries of the Cumberland Community Improvement District, a self-taxing area that uses its revenue for infrastructure improvements.

Ott said 99 percent of county taxpayers should not expect to see any tax increase tied to the stadium project.
“The businesses around there are going to be footing the bill,” he said.

Neither the commissioners nor the Braves executives would say Monday where the financing for the project would come from.

Ott said the project would generate about 400,000 new hotel stays per year.

Tad Leithead, chairman of the Cumberland CID, said he, too, was surprised by the announcement.
“Heck, I think it’s the most exciting economic development and real estate development that we’ve seen here in Atlanta since Atlantic Station,” Leithead said. “It’s huge.”

That gives two clues. First that the Cumberland CID may be involved; second that business taxes will be the source of funding. The other business tax that I consider one of the usual suspects for projects like this is the Hotel-Motel tax.

Community Improvement District like the Cumberland CID are self-taxing districts. Here’s a good primer from the Gwinnett County website:

A CID is an organization created to cover a specific geographical area with certain limited taxing powers. These additional tax revenues are spent on area improvements such as roads. Georgia law regulates the creation of CIDs by requiring voluntary participation by a certain portion of property owners with a certain portion of the tax value in the area.

Although an additional tax is collected by the County Tax Commissioner, a CID is created under state law by a majority of the area’s property owners, not by the county.

And some details on CID-financing from the Georgia Cities Foundation.

The administrative body of the CID … may levy taxes, fees and assessments within the CID, not to exceed 2.5 percent of the assessed value of the real property. Such taxes, fees and assessments may only be levied on real property that is used for non-residential purposes and revenues may be used only to provide governmental services and facilities within the CID. Bonded debt is permitted, but such debt may not be considered an obligation of the state or any other unit of government other than the CID.

So significant financing from the Cumberland CID would fit the situation Commissioner Bob Ott describes. But the statement by the head of the Cumberland CID that he was surprised by the announcement adds to the mystery, rather than clarifying the question of public financing.

Commission Chair Tim Lee has been quoted saying publicly that the local financing is private and that Cobb County will not be paying toward the stadium. Whether that’s an accurate quote or an accurate statement I cannot currently ascertain.

In any case, we’ll be hearing much more about the financing between now and November 26, when a Cobb County Commission vote on the Memorandum of Understanding and financing is expected.

Secret deal?

The second major issue is whether Cobb County voters will balk at the sudden announcement and what appears to be greased skids for a quick approval by the County Commission after very little public discussion.

Much of the sound and fury surrounding the Falcons Stadium deal involved the issue of secrecy versus public input. It remains to be seen whether this becomes a major issue, but I suspect that Common Cause Georgia is talking about whether to raise a stink or not.

Traffic the elephant in the room

Commissioner Ott said that he is hearing from voters about traffic concerns when the new stadium comes online.

Ott said he was already hearing from his constituents Monday. He said his email inbox was flooded and his cellphone was lighting up.

“I think the biggest concern people have is traffic,” he said. “But there are $580 million of transportation projects coming on line in that area in the next 10 years, where you have the diamond interchange and you have the reversible lanes. So there’s some good plans out there to address those concerns.

“I just think it’s going to lift everybody up out in that area. I think overall it will be a positive. It’s just sudden, new, and huge.”

David Pendered of The Saporta Report has written a piece downplaying the impact on traffic of the new stadium.

The notion offered by the Atlanta Braves that fans will find it easier to get to a ballgame in Cobb County than in downtown Atlanta ran into a buzz saw of criticism Monday.

“What a traffic nightmare!! I-75 and I-285 are already [troubled],” a writer identified as MayorDowning commented on ajc.com. “Now you’re adding to it.”

In reality, the Cobb site isn’t in the midst of a hopeless traffic nightmare. The planned ballpark is alongside Gov. Nathan Deal’s major highway initiative. It’s in the middle of a grid of big roads served by three interstate highways. And it’s about a mile from the transfer station of Cobb’s bus system and its linkage to MARTA.

Another potential salve for game-day traffic congestion is that Cobb has the chance to include the planned stadium in the next update of its comprehensive transportation plan. Work on the update began earlier this year and is to be complete in 2014.

The Cumberland CID also is in a position to help improve access to the planned stadium. The CID has helped create a network of roadways and sidewalks throughout the district that enable mobility without the need to get on major roads.

Between now and the new stadium’s opening in 2017, traffic issues will be largely contained to the immediate area, as massive construction will undoubtedly impact local surface roads.

Until then, it is the perception that voters and elected officials will vie with. Fox 5 Atlanta and InsiderAdvantage have released polling done overnight of Cobb County voters. Here’s how they see the traffic issue.

Over 80% of respondents said that the stadium’s location, where I-285 and I-75 intersect, would negatively or somewhat negatively impact traffic.

What impact do you believe the creation of such a stadium will have on traffic and commutes into and out of Cobb County?

a) Will have a negative impact 84%
c) Will have no impact 11%%
d) Undecided no opinion 5%