DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A stop work order issued by DeKalb County for the proposed Atlanta Public Safety Training Center site is being lifted, according to county officials.
The announcement comes shortly after 11Alive initially received a news release from county officials that said its Department of Planning and Sustainability had issued the order for the future public training site. It said the order was put out after DeKalb County inspectors saw that the required silt fence -- a fence used to retain soil on disturbed land -- and other erosion control measures were "malfunctioning," a release from DeKalb County stated.
The initial news release added the that land development permit issued on Feb. 2 requires the site, “to control soil erosion and sedimentation on the Property during construction, including, but not limited to, silt fences, mulch filter berms, and temporary sediment basins.”
A spokesperson for the City of Atlanta contacted 11Alive Thursday night to say it had been removed. 11Alive followed up with the county again to see where the situation stands. We then learned that the "Best Management Practices" had been brought back into compliance with the county's codes.
"Atlanta Police Foundation was sent an email at 4:45 p.m. stating that the stop work order was lifted after a report by two inspectors was reviewed by the county’s chief building official," DeKalb's updated news release said. "The review confirmed that the BMPs had been brought back into compliance with DeKalb County building codes."
However, county officials added that the lifting of the notice would become official once the stop work order signs are removed from the site; they expect that to happen Friday morning.
The future site of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is widely known by critics as "Cop City." Several activists were recently charged with domestic terrorism after property was damaged at the development site.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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