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Keheley's "phenomenal" principal, NE Cobb deserves business respect, Ragsdale an Ace again, zoning attorneys I trust

If her Cobb work is any indicator, Keheley's LIz Jackson earned award in Fulton County

Liz Jackson

Congratulations to Keheley Elementary School Principal Liz Jackson, who has been named one of the "Phenomenal Women of North Fulton County" for 2010. Jackson was selected selected for this recognition by the North Fulton Express Network, a chapter of the American Business Women's Association. The award was presented at the Fifth-Annual Phenomenal Women of North Fulton luncheon March 10 at Roswell Founders Hall.

Jackson is involved in many community activities in Roswell, and the award makes it even more clear why she is such a phenomenal principal at Keheley. From my first visit to the school, I could feel the warm environment and a special energy from the principal and her entire staff. That feeling has only grown since my youngest daughter began attending school there in August, 2009.

With only about 470 students, Keheley is one of the smaller schools in Cobb County and opened about 25 years ago as a temporary school. I'm overjoyed it has stayed around long enough to allow my daughter time to attend there with Jackson as principal.

I'm glad she didn't keep all her magic in Fulton County.

Improved properties and good product does not always mean "roll out the welcome mat"

Whenever a business comes into the Northeast Cobb and adds to the area through improved properties and providing a quality product, the effort should be appreciated and recognized. However, that does not give the business owners the right to do whatever they would like because of the positives they have brought with them. Appreciation and respect is required both ways to make a business a true "success" in every sense of the word.

Just bringing a unique or quality product to the table doesn't mean the community owes a business owner special exceptions, such as building and zoning requirements. To expect such shows a lack of understanding of this community and appreciation for it. Eventually, when other similar businesses offering similar products and, hopefully, appreciation for the community come in, the first owner may find himself with, literally, a floundering business. This scenario could happen even without added competition.

It's my hope all businesses in our area prosper from coming here, and each appreciates its community as much the community appreciates the busines and product being served. However, thumbing a nose at county ordinances and ignoring the laws and wishes of the community is not a way to endear a business to the people of Northeast Cobb. In today's business world, staying on top is not a simple task. It's even tougher when you choose to ignore the community your business serves.

Change always finds a way of, well, changing. I hope some business minds change in this community soon.

While one group of business owners is doing all it can to irritate the Northeast Cobb community, a great business owner is making his way back to the area. Actually, he's making his way back to the exact same location with the same business.

Steve Ragsdale is preparing to re-open Ragsdale Ace Hardware in Market Square Shopping Center on Canton Road. Ragsdale sold the family-owned business in August of 2008. He decided to come back for personal reasons after seeing the hardware close in December 2009, because his family had run it for 37 years before selling and he "hated to see it close"after so many years.

"I took over the business after my dad," said Ragsdale. "Once it closed in December, I was approached by Ace and the property management company for Market Square about the possibility of reopening the hardware. It was an attractive offer, so we're getting things ready to open around the last week of March."

Ragsdale said while his store will look much like before, some changes will be obvious, and this time around he has a business partner involved. He also said he won't be spending 60 hour weeks, as he did for years, running the hardware.

"Debbie (Ragsdale's wife) has said I need to stay away from the long hours," Ragsdale said. "It's funny, but once you get away from something you look at it in a different way. I enjoy the store, but I don't plan on 60 hour weeks this time."

We see businesses come and go in Northeast Cobb, but I heard many people talking about how much they missed having Ragsdale Ace Hardware to shop. I'm one of those people and am glad to see a quality person like Steve Ragsdale back in the community.

Look for a full story about the hardware store in the Northeast Cobb Monitor.com once it opens again.

Believe it or not, sometimes a zoning lawyer makes a positive difference

In negotiating area rezoning requests and code problems with property owners or developers over the years, I've had everything thrown at me from the most positive to being told I have no right to tell someone what to do. I've also been told to "go to hell' so much I sometimes feel the flames.

I understand I have no right to tell someone what to do but rather see what can be done to assure whatever is being proposed is not something that will negatively impact property values or people's perceptions of the Northeast Cobb community and still provide what a developer or property owner needs. Those two items often go hand in hand. As I've said many times before, I respect a property owner's right to develop property, but care must be taken to assure there are no negatives that trespass across property lines to impact others.

In negotiating with Marietta zoning attorney Garvis Sams on the Steak, LLC property on Canton Road involving a new parking lot for Cherokee Cattle Company, I'm reminded why I like having him represent a client. As a former county attorney, Sams not only understands the legalities of a rezoning or variance, but also has a grasp on what the Canton Road community is trying to do to improve the road. He works for his clients but has realistic expectations on what will fly before the Cobb County Board of Commissioners and what wont.

While I don't have a lot of faith in the owners of Steak, LLC, I am comfortable with what Sams agrees to and his willingness to put it in writing.

While his approach is a little different, I have also had great experiences negotiating another local zoning attorney, John Moore. With both men, I would estimate we come to agreement on at least 80% of the issues involved before the cases are ever heard. Even when agreement can't be reached, it's always handled in a professional way by both men.

There is a lot of truth to the saying "No one loves an attorney until you need one." Anyone going through a potentially tough rezoning or variance would be wise to use the two attorneys mentioned.

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