The Newton County Board of Commissioners finally voted, unanimously, to authorize the purchase of more than 16 acres of vacant land in Fairview Estates from SunTrust Bank for $300,000.

Around 12.1 acres of the land will be used for the much-discussed public park, and the additional four acres will eventually be given to the Fairview Estates Homeowners Association, once the neighborhood gets the HOA set up.

Tuesday night’s vote was taken in open session, following an executive session. The item was not on the agenda.

The actual motion was for the county to accept the assignment of a contract from the non-profit group IECDG, which had previously signed a contract to purchase the land from SunTrust in January. The BOC contracted with Conyers-based IECDG last year when the county was first awarded stimulus money through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

IECDG will work with the homeowners of Fairview Estates to form an HOA, and once that group is operational, the HOA will receive the four acres to use for future amenities, such as a pool. The amenities will be paid for by the HOA through collected dues, not by IECDG or the county.

SunTrust previously controlled the HOA, but when IECDG turns over the four acres to the residents, they will then have enough property to control the HOA.

The BOC first decided to spend NSP money on Fairview Estates in late May and ever since then the proposal to build a public park in the neighborhood has been hotly debated. Nearly a year later, it looks like the park project is finally secured.

“I think this is the culmination of a lot of work to give the community something to be proud of. Ultimately, it’s going to add value to Fairview Estates and the entire Fairview Road area,” Schulz said after the meeting. “All the players, including the residents, worked hard to bring this together.

“All of the residents I’ve spoken told me they moved to Newton County for a higher quality of life. This park will be investment in that quality of life. I’m really proud of that.”