Dougherty Co. Commission votes on land; South Albany residents against Barnaby Rd. proposal

ALBANY, Ga. – A land dispute took the focus of Monday morning’s Dougherty County commission meeting, as members of this south Albany neighborhood were firmly against a new project.

The project in question that founder of The Life Preparatory School for Boys, King Randall wanted to use the land for was a facility to continue helping struggling young men of color.

He says the facility that would have been built there wouldn’t have even impacted the neighborhood.

“Our traffic wouldn’t even go into the neighborhood. Our property sits like half a mile back form the sub-division. But they’re only coming in and out of our property, they have no need to go back to the neighborhood in the first place,” said King Randall, founder, The Life Preparatory School for Boys.

But, that isn’t how long-time residents on Barnaby Road feel.

Several voiced their concerns to the county commission, claiming the potential of trouble for some who’ve lived there for decades.

“…We are a family neighborhood. And, we do not need any skating rink, or anything Mr. Randall is trying to bring to our neighborhood. We would love for it to stay with homes, and homes only as a family neighborhood,” said Barbara Dawson, Barnaby Road resident.

And, some stated that the facilities Randall is trying to offer are already there and that him building on the lot is unnecessary.

“We just don’t want them to change our amenities provided from re-zoning of a family-residential area, to a commercial area. Cause we don’t want that in our neighborhood….” said Emma Robinson, Barnaby Road resident.

The decision by the county commissioners was ultimately a rejection of Randall’s proposal…

But…that doesn’t mean he is giving up on the lot.

“…We continue working, and now we just go to a new plan, and see how we can build a house, and what we can include and can’t include in a house. Nobody can tell you what your house can be designed like. So, we still gonna look like what we want it to look like. It’s just going to look a bit different as far as logistics are concerned…” said King Randall, founder, The Life Preparatory School for Boys.

While it’s back to the drawing board for Randall, he’s still optimistic about using the land on Barnaby Road to help out struggling young men.

The county commission voted 4-3 against Randall’s proposal.

Brian Roche reporting.

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