In early March, approximately 54,000 cubic feet of fill dirt was dumped onto three lots around Price Avenue and Sunset Drive in Athens, leaving some residents outraged.

The dirt comes from the site of the Special Collections Library Project at the University and will go toward new residential development of the lots.

Picket signs in the Sunset neighborhood tell passers-by to “See the Giant Dirt Mound.” Photo by Jesse Walker

Jamie Roskie, managing attorney for the University Land Use Clinic and resident of Sunset neighborhood on Price Avenue, has been pushing with others since March to have the dirt properly removed from the area.

Some residents feel the dirt will never be utilized for development of the property but will remain on-site indefinitely. “The site looks like a giant motocross track for motorcycles and three-wheelers,” wrote Roskie in a letter sent to the Environmental Protection Division May 4. The dirt “stands as tall as roof tops along Price Avenue and Sunset Drive, engulfs trees on the properties, and trespasses on the property on 360 Price Avenue.”

The letter was signed by several other residents of the area. It expressed their concern of not only how excess dirt created an unwanted image but also speculated that regulations and laws were being overlooked by the owners and developers of the properties.

“Essentially this amount of dirt stored on a site is an ‘Inert Landfill,’” wrote Roskie in an e-mail to The Red & Black. “State regulations require that he show he can use at least 60 percent of the dirt on site within 90 days of placement.”

But Danny Sniff, the University’s head architect, said Ashley Hill, the developer of a new proposed residential complex on Price Avenue, has done nothing wrong except for creating a large eyesore for the neighborhood. Sniff said the University has no responsibility in the matter but has offered to take back the dirt to assist the residents.

Sniff said he has never had a problem with fill dirt in a residential area in 23 years of working for the University.

“Fill dirt is given away to anyone with a need for it,” he said. “In this case, there was so much dirt.”

The soil must be stabilized to prevent erosion, said David Clark, of Athens-Clarke County Public Works Department. Acceptable stabilizing methods include placing silt fences and planting grass.

Hill said he has done everything asked of him by the ACC Public Works Department to stop any eroding of the soil. He has implemented silt fencing and over-seeded the dirt with a variety of grasses. Hill added that fertilizer and mulch have been used, as well.

As long as the size of the undisturbed soil remains under an acre, a permit from Athens-Clarke County is not required. This does not mean permits from other agencies are not mandatory.