Suwanee Officials Testify in Lawsuit Vs. City

The Suwanee mayor and city manager testified Tuesday in Gwinnett Superior Court in a lawsuit against the city over a failed land purchase dating to 2008.

Mayor Dave Williams and City Manager Marty Allen testified under cross examination by attorneys for Settles Bridge Farm, landowners in Suwanee who had hoped to sell to a Duluth school that was seeking to build in the city.

The potential sale was abandoned after Suwanee officials adopted a moratorium on building permits. Suwanee cited community safety as a reason for the moratorium; the plaintiffs feel Suwanee acted unfairly.

Notre Dame Academy in Duluth had an $8 million agreement to buy 36.5 acres of land in the Moore Road area to build a new school. Suwanee officials say they knew of the interest and felt that area residents would be opposed to a school being built there.

The school has settled its own lawsuit with the city related to the abandoned deal. A third lawsuit over the matter is against the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and VP Nick Masino, a former Suwanee mayor.

According to the Gwinnett Daily Post, Allen testified that shortly after receiving word of the planned school, he sent an email to Williams and council members advising the community would "go nuts" over the plans. In the email, Allen advised how to proceed should the city wish to "head this off."

Allen testified the latter phrase was not referring to stopping the plans, but encouraging collaboration with the stakeholders.

"I wish I'd have phrased it more clearly," Allen testified.

Two council members responded in minutes in favor of exploring a moratorium. The mayor replied, simply, "OK," according to testimony.

Suwanee City Attorney Gregory Jay is involved with the defense, though not as lead attorney. Williams would not comment, as he could have to testify again as a defense witness.

The lawsuit is expected to be completed this week.