New Fields Will Add Value to Neighborhoods, Community

With growth in popularity of soccer across our great nation and our string of successes - one of Concorde Fire Soccer Club’s teams is ranked No. 16 in the country - we are faced with a wonderful and exciting challenge; we have run out of room to accommodate the high demand.Our proposal to create three new soccer fields on Johnson Ferry Road in Brookhaven has drawn the ire of a small but vocal minority in the surrounding neighborhoods.

We would like the opportunity to clear up some misconceptions and state the facts related to our growing soccer club. We are proposing the new fields, a one-story clubhouse; and parking for 167 cars.Last year the membership was 1,310 boys and girls. Of that number, only 727 will use the new fields. Of the concerns raised by neighbors, it seems that traffic, flooding and deforestation are recurring themes.

An independent traffic engineer conducted an analysis of traffic. On a daily basis no more than 226 new vehicles will be introduced to the area between 4 to 9 p.m. All of this traffic is now using the other fields in the same geographic area. 

There are no wetlands on the property that will be disturbed. All hydrology reports will be subject to review by the Corps and Georgia EPD. There are a significant number of DeKalb County parks which contain floodplain, including nearby Murphy Candler and the Blackburn Park soccer fields. 

Further, there are multiple residential areas located immediately adjacent to soccer fields. None of the homes in these areas have been devalued because of their proximity to these fields. Indeed the neighborhoods tout the proximity as neighborhood amenities.
We ask that you take the time to understand the facts which surround the proposal.  

Jody Young

Concorde Fire Soccer Club Board Member