Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of the 93-Acre Buffington Road Site

From January 3 to January 6, 2014, Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington; Norcross, Georgia), conducted a Phase I cultural resources survey of the 93-acre (37.6-hectare) Buffington Road Site in Union City, Georgia. The site is located southwest of the intersection of Interstate 85 and Flat Shoals Road in southern Fulton County. Portions of this tract are currently owned by the Body of Christ Christian Church, Inc. (College Park, Georgia) and the Development Authority of Fulton County. The survey was conducted under subcontract with Contour Environmental, LLC (Kennesaw, Georgia) to determine the effects of the project on cultural resources. This cultural resources survey was required pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 CFR 320-330), in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (as amended through 2000), and 36 CFR 800 (Protection of Historic Properties). The current undertaking includes both an archaeological and a historic architectural survey component. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) was defined as the entire parcel, which is to be developed commercially. The architectural resources APE is defined as the entire site and its immediate viewshed. During the archaeological survey, shovel testing and pedestrian survey was conducted across the entire 93-acre site. The architectural survey included a viewshed analysis of all potentially historic buildings or structures in the vicinity of the proposed development. All activities were completed in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA 1966, as amended) and its implementing regulations (26 CFR Part 800) by personnel qualified under the Secretary of Interior Standards (36 CFR Part 61) as well as and in accordance with the standards set forth by the Georgia Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Surveys (Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists 2003) and National Register Bulletin 24, Guidelines for Local Surveys: A Basis for Preservation Planning (Parker 1985). All personnel participating in project completion met the Secretary of Interior professional qualifications under 36 CFR Part 61. Background research identified no previously recorded cultural resources within the project area. Three previously undocumented archaeological sites, two historic house sites (9FU593, 9FU595) and a prehistoric lithic scatter (9FU594), as well three isolated prehistoric archaeological finds (Isolates 1-3) were identified during field investigations. However, these resources are considered ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The historic architectural survey identified one historic structure (3740 Flat Shoals Road) within the viewshed of the parcel; this resource is also recommended ineligible for the NRHP. Therefore, there are no resources within the APE of the Buffington Road Site that warrant further management under Section 106 of the NHPA. Brockington recommends no further cultural resources investigations be required for this undertaking.