Update on open records request, Does Brook Run have buried asbestos? When will the 30 acres of park land be available?

30 Acres of Closed Park Space

I have a habit of requesting public records and posting them on line and I apologize for hyping the Brook Run Park asbestos cleanup without completing the story.

As a reminder, Brook Run is a 102 acre park in Dunwoody where DeKalb County contracted to have five abandoned buildings removed at a cost of 1.3 million dollars. Towards the end of the project, additional asbestos was “discovered” and the cost of the project jumped by an additional $500,000 dollars. I have made several open record requests regarding this property and it is my belief that this project has been mismanaged and financial games have been played. The county’s response to my open records requests have varied between extremely unresponsive (they flat out lied to me once stating that there were no records available and then were caught in the bold faced lie with the $500,000 extension happening the next week) to bending over backward to assist me. This time the response was very good.

Mr. Dave Butler, the Environmental Manager for the DeKalb Parks Department whom I have known and talked to in the past, cooperated fully by providing everything I asked for in order to assist me in verifying that the County has done the proper due diligence as it relates to cleaning up the Brook Run property. Mr. Butler provided the hundreds of waste manifests proving the movement of the concrete to the landfill, internal e-mails, maps /drawings and the check list which states that the Brook Run project is now complete.

In an e-mail to me regarding the possible burying of asbestos, Mr. Butler gave me his personal account of the asbestos removal.

During removal of the Therapy Building foundation and subsequent grading of the site, I made twice weekly inspections of the work, the environmental inspector from Planning and Development made weekly inspections, and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) visited the site several times. There was no evidence of demolition debris buried on site. The remaining fragments of stone, brick, or concrete that you may see on the surface were left behind after loading out the stockpiles of debris.

The link below contains a good portion of the records (except for the waste manifests) and the final project checklist which shows that everything has been completed in the park.

http://www.dunwoodynorth.org/images/BrookRun_openrecords_043008.pdf

With that being said, I believe the back of Brook Run Park is still closed. Why?? The work is done and there are 30 acres of beautiful park land waiting to be explored, why is it still closed?
If anybody finds out, please let me know, I have been asking that same question for months.

Oh, and if you happen to talk to the DeKalb County Parks Department, please ask them when the benches for the Children’s playground are scheduled to arrive? I have been asking that question for years.

Documents provided by DeKalb County but questions about Brook Run remain.

On Friday, DeKalb County provided 131 pages of documents concerning the demolition of the structures at the back of Brook Run Park; many of which were available at the time of my previous requests but not provided until now. I was particularly interested in the analytical test results proving that the moisture barrier embedded in the two concrete foundations truly requires a $500,000.00 contract extension. I was promised on Friday of a quick response on the documentation of the asbestos and will post it on line as soon as it is received.

Besides the proof of additional asbestos, I am again questioning the promises made to the community in regards to the $11.5 million dollars promised specifically for Brook Run Park, promises for new park benches, promises for shade sails for the playground as well as replacement trees that were removed in the construction of the skate park.

Most of the information provided is e-mail correspondence between the County & the following four companies.

1. Dore & Associates Contracting, Inc., Bay City, MI
2. Corporate Environmental Risk Management (CERM), Atlanta, GA
3. Tristar of America, Inc., Norcross, GA
4. Abatech Services, Inc., Snellville, GA

The e-mail below was sent to DeKalb County on Friday evening thanking them for the 131 pages of documents that can be obtained at the link immediately following.

http://www.dunwoodynorth.org/images/BrookRun_OpenRecords_Demo_110207.pdf

Dear Mr.’s Smith & Stamps, thank you for providing me the documents I requested in my latest request, it is much appreciated.

I went though all of the documents separating them into two separate piles, one for skate park documents and the other was for demolition documents. I have placed the demolition documents in chronological order, scanned them into an electronic format, and have made them available on my website servers as shown below.

http://www.dunwoodynorth.org/images/BrookRun_OpenRecords_Demo_110207.pdf

Mr. Stamps you are already aware on the one document that I was specifically looking for that was not provided in the pile. I asked for the analytical test results proving that the moisture barrier imbedded on the two concrete foundations was actually proved to be asbestos and you stated that Mr. Dave Butler probably received such documentation from the environmental firm CERM in their proposal (found on page 42). For a $500,000 contract extension, I am very interested in seeing the test results for the two building foundations believed to be asbestos.

At the Oct 23^rd BOC Meeting, Commissioner Gannon asked a question on the Change Order for Triad (E10) as to where the money for this parks project was going to be coming from. She was informed that the money would be coming from the last Parks Bond Referendum. Since the Brook Run demolition was also advertised to be completed in the parks bond referendum, I take it that the $20,000.00 increase for Change 1 and the $470,000 increase for Change 2 will both be subtracted from the $11.5 Million promised for Brook Run Park in the 2005 Parks bond referendum? Is that the case?

On July 12^th, I attended the County Wide Parks Master Plan meeting at the Mason Mill Recreation Center and because it wasn’t a public meeting whereby I could make a public statement; I was instructed by Commissioners Gannon & Rader to give Mr. Billups my prepared statement. I talked to Mr. Billups after the meeting, provided him my prepared document, asked about obtaining an electronic copy of the large color Master Plan of Brook Run crated by EDAW and followed up the meeting with an e-mail (attached) again asking questions regarding Brook Run. My requests for information & documents in this case were never acknowledged, nor answered, therefore I will repeat them again.

The first question was concerning the accounting of the expenditures and the balance of the $11.5 million dollars available for future development of the master plan. I have attached the latest general breakdown of the parks bond money but I am looking for it broken down to the park level as promised it would be (at least for Brook Run). Is this type of detailed information accessible, if so, the community deserves a full accounting of where the promised $11.5 million dollars are being spent and what funds are still available?

2001 Bond - Parks Improvement Projects

2006 Bond - Parks Improvement Projects

The second item was concerning the promised reforestation along Peeler in order to block the view of the skate park. Commissioner Boyer in a private meeting with community representatives, myself & Mr. Billups, Ms. Boyer asked Mr. Billups if she still had money available in a specific fund (special projects?) for additional trees. At the time, she was informed that there was money available for the trees and Ms. Boyer made a public statement in the Dunwoody Crier that a “massive re-landscaping” needs to be done along Peeler. I have yet to hear of a reply from Ms. Boyer regarding this item but take it for grated that the drought would have a negative affect the trees being installed.

The next item I inquired to the Parks Department on was public statement of Mr. Billups who stated to the Dunwoody Crier that additional benches and shade awnings were to be installed at the Children's Adventure Playground. I asked for confirmation of the quote & asked if a timeline might be available for these improvements? To date, Mr. Billups has never replied to my request for a timeline for these improvements.

Though the County has yet to answer my questions above, they did fulfill my final request of July 12 to install speed limit signs in Brook Run Park. Thank you.

Finally in the Brook Run Skate Park documents, I noticed that a Change Order for the completion of the Brook Run Skate Park was being prepared for an upcoming BOC Meeting and I didn’t see the dollar amount? I hope that it is nowhere near the extended costs of the demolition project and I guess the specific documents will be available after the BOC decision on the matter.

I look forward to obtaining the test results and other documentation from Mr. Butler proving that asbestos is embedded in the moisture barrier and maybe I will obtain answers to my other questions above.

Thanks,

John Heneghan, President
Dunwoody North Civic Association
http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com

---

-----Original Message-----

From: Smith, Kendric E [mailto:kesmith@co.dekalb.ga.us]
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2007 3:14 PM
To: Dunwoody North Civic Association
Cc: Billups, Marvin F.; Stamps, James; Ernstes, Viviane
Subject: RE: Open Records - update requested

John,

The documents pertinent to the change order (#2) will be available at 5 PM from James Stamps in his office on the third floor - I think you have been there before. Strictly speaking, most of these documents were not in the custody of either Marilyn Boyd Drew or Viviane Ernstes, but we won't quarrel over that at this point. Also, we are waiving copying or staff assistance costs on the production of these documents, in view of the previous difficulty on this point, so you don't need to bring any money.

James Stamps also states that he has already given you a complete set of the contract, the site and grading plans, and environmental assessments. The documents produced today include any correspondence (mostly e-mails) between the contractor and purchasing concerning the proposed Change Order #2, which has been approved by the Commission, although we are not certain whether the CEO has approved or vetoed it. With this production plus the previous one, according to Marvin Billups and James Stamps, you should have complete copies of everything requested to the extent that it exists either in the Parks Department or in Purchasing & Contracting. No documents have been withheld as exempt under the Open Records Act.

As for the grading plans, Mr. Stamps insists that they are included in the material he gave you previously. Perhaps there is a problem with interpretation, in which case you may wish to have a builder / contractor review them for you. Please let me know if I can be of any help.

Regards,

Kendric

Kendric E. Smith
Assistant County Attorney
DeKalb County Law Department

Asbestos debris at Dunwoody High School worries parents

Video and full article

(CBS 46 ATLANTA) - A construction project at a local school has upset neighbors. They said workers at the Dunwoody High School renovation didn't properly dispose of asbestos - and they're worried for their children's health.

The problem is the dumpster. The Environmental Protection Agency told CBS Atlanta News it's supposed to be secured with a fence surrounding it so nobody can gain access to the debris.

"What is it you're doing this afternoon?" asked CBS Atlanta News reporter Steve Kiggins.
"That's none of your business," replied an unidentified contractor.
"It actually is my business," answered Kiggins.

Workers with Kidd and Associates Environmental Contractors dodged Tough Questions after a concerned neighbor said hazardous materials weren't properly handled.  "Obviously they need to get rid of the asbestos from the school and there's OSHA regulations and ways to do it properly," said concerned neighbor Joe Hirsch. "It doesn't appear that's what they're doing."

Hirsch snapped photographs of contractors throwing away construction debris into a dumpster at Dunwoody high in DeKalb County. Renovations at the school are almost complete, but the way asbestos floor tiles are being handled worries Hirsch.  "You can see them just taking shovel-fulls and throwing the debris on top of the dumpster, and it's just blowing around," Hirsch said.

The dumpster sits in the high school parking lot right next to where a school bus drops children off after day camp.

Has Brook Run been properly cleaned up or was it just buried? Show me proof & test results.

Brook Run the 102 acre park in Dunwoody has had its share of problems through the years but it has so much potential to be a spectacular park. The county just tacked on $500,000 change order to a $1.3 million dollar demolition contract to do asbestos abatement and the citizens of area want to make sure the work was done properly.

A thorough review of previous documentation shows that building materials were allowed to be buried on site even though initially that was not suppose to happen. What is troubling is the fact that those buildings were completely destroyed inside & out prior to demolition and asbestos was strewn everywhere including outside the buildings.

I have filed what I hope to be the final open records request on the Brook Run demolition so that the county and their contractors can prove that they did the proper abatement and removal of the asbestos.

Open Records Request for Brook Run Final Cleanup

'Wanton destruction' at Brook Run building

http://broadcastatlanta.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3561&Itemid=871

March 6, 2007
By Cathy Cobbs
For The Crier

A beautiful Sunday on the playground at a local park. Families are gathered around the park’s swing sets and water features, socializing while their children explore and play.

Down the road, in the same park, on the same afternoon, a group of teenagers, armed with spray paint cans, start decorating the walls of an empty building on the grounds, unconcerned about a group of men observing them.

It’s not the first time this former hospital building has been defaced. In fact, it’s difficult to find a part of the 300,000-square-foot structure, which has been documented to contain asbestos, that hasn’t been damaged or destroyed.Virtually all the windows have been shattered. Doors have been kicked in.A fence surrounding the building lies flat to the ground. Profanity-laced and gang-related graffiti and pornographic images cover the walls.

Signs that fires have been set in the building exist in several areas, and one forlorn couch sits in the building’s reception area, blackened and burnt. Exposed electrical wires and sockets, along with insulation and ceiling tiles, hang down from the ceiling. Empty 9-mm shells and 12-gauge shotgun shells litter the floors.The location for this scene of yin and yang, light and dark, good and evil? Dunwoody’s Brook Run on North Peachtree Road.

“It’s the worst place you could ever imagine, worse than Camden, New Jersey, which is absolutely the most terrible place in the world to live,” said one Dunwoody resident who toured the building several weeks ago. “It’s just one horrible thing after another.”

“I was incredibly shocked,” said another resident who also toured the facility several times. “It just goes on and on and on. The wanton destruction of this building, the unsafe conditions, is just beyond belief.”

The duo said the damage done to the hospital building isn’t something that happened overnight. In fact, it’s been years in the making.

“It’s obvious people have had access to this building for years and years,” the second resident said. “This isn’t something that happened over a weekend or two.”

At least one of the people touring the hospital isn’t surprised at all.

John Heneghan, a Dunwoody North resident, has been in and out of the old hospital building during the last six months, and has witnessed the degradation of the area.

“I was there six months ago and then again recently, and not much has changed,” he said. “I’ve been trying to get someone to secure that building for a long time.”

Heneghan said his concern is the graffiti and destruction is moving away from the hospital and into areas closer to the Children’s Adventure Playground at the front of the park’s entrance.

In a letter written to CEO Vernon Jones in late January, Heneghan said, “Behind the theater and behind a single story office building, the boarded up windows of the building had the plywood taken down, many (about five) windows were completely broken out, the lights were on and front door side glass panel was wide open. I stuck my head in the back window and noticed signs that people had used the space in the not-so-distant past. I see this as a major safety factor for our neighborhood children and a lack of due diligence as to the management of this property.”

In a February 15 post on Dunwoody North’s website (www.dunwoodynorth.org), Brook Run Conservancy’s Nick Nicodemus said, “In follow-up to conversation, (Police North Precinct Commander) Major Gillstrap has assigned Lt. Tracy the responsibility for checking out vacant buildings at Brook Run for suspicious activity. In conversation with Lt. Tracy today, DeKalb Police will be making daily sweeps of the park beginning Friday, February 16th.”

DeKalb County Spokesperson Kristie Swink confirmed that complaints had been received about “the after-hour activities” at the hospital and that police had been contacted to increase patrols in the area.

In addition, Swink said a $1.3 million contract had just been awarded to Dore & Associates, Inc. for demolition and asbestos abatement at the hospital. The contract also includes demolition of the park’s power plant and several dormitories near the power plant.

“The work is expected to start by March 15,” Swink said. “I don’t have information as to when the work is supposed to be complete.”

Local residents remain particularly concerned that authorities haven’t secured a facility known to contain hazardous materials.

“This is a known hazardous materials site, which should never be open to the public,” one citizen said. “It should be secured and barricaded and it is not even close to being anywhere near that.”

Meanwhile, children and their families continue to play on the park’s nearby playground. And the former hospital building remains open and unsecured, an open target for continuing vandalism, danger, and trouble.

Reprinted with permission from the Dunwoody Crier: www.thecrier.net.

Dunwoody Construction Project Update

PROJECT UPDATES:  SUMMER ROAD PAVING GETS UNDERWAY, GEORGETOWN PARK OPENS WITH CELEBRATION, AND BROOK RUN PARK IMPROVEMENTS

Dunwoody Construction Project Updates for 6/109/14

Brook Run Building Demolition Nearing Completion Main Street Project Readies for Lane Shift Dunwoody Nature Center Gets “Decked” Out Chamblee Dunwoody Road Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements

Dunwoody, Ga.  June 10, 2014 – The City of Dunwoody is currently engaged in several beneficial and exciting infrastructure projects in different phases of active development and construction.

 

2014 Citywide Paving Plans:

In June and July the city plans to conduct paving and repair work on the following streets:

 

Street	From	To	Length	Work
Perimeter Center Pl.	Perimeter Center W.	Meadow Lane Rd.	1911	Mill, Patch And Overlay 2.5"
Tamassee Ct.	N Peachtree Rd.	End	723	Deep Patch And Pave
Luray Ct.	Luray Dr.	End	964	Deep Patch And Pave
Front Royal Ct.	Luray Dr.	End	337	Deep Patch And Pave
Cherring Ln.	Peeler Rd.	Cherring Dr.	1238	Deep Patch And Pave
Cherring Dr.	Peeler Rd.	Tilly Mill Rd	1666	Deep Patch And Pave
Verdon Ct.	Verdon Dr.	End	241	Deep Patch And Pave
Bordeau Ct.	Verdon Dr.	End	590	Deep Patch And Pave
Vermack Ridge	Vermack Rd.	End	1112	Deep Patch And Pave
Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.	Cotillion Dr.	Peeler Rd.	3426	Patching & Crack Sealing
Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.	Roberts Dr.	Spalding Dr.		Crack Seal

 

 

The city also has funded paving of the following streets in this year’s budget:

Street	From	To	Length	Work
Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.	Cambridge Dr.	Valley View Dr.	3277	Mill, Patch And Overlay 1.5"
Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.	Valley View Rd.	Womack Rd	2215	Mill, Patch And Overlay 2"
Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.	Womack Rd.	Roberts Dr.	3997	Mill, Patch And Overlay 2"
Center Dr.	Chamblee Dunwoody	End	561	Mill, Patch And Overlay 2"
Dunwoody Village Pkwy	Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.	South End	450	Mill, Patch And Overlay 2"
Mount Vernon Rd.	Ashford Dunwoody Rd.	Chamblee Dunwoody	1450	Mill, Patch And Overlay 2.5"
Mount Vernon Rd.	Chamblee Dunwoody	Vernon Oaks Dr.	4143	Mill, Patch And Overlay 1.5"
Nandina Ln.	Chamblee Dunwoody	Mount Vernon Rd.	636	Mill, Patch And Overlay 2"

 

 

Dunwoody is coordinating the paving of the following streets in conjunction with a water main replacement project by DeKalb County on Mount Vernon Road and Chamblee Dunwoody Road.  Due to the timing of the water main replacement project, Mount Vernon Road, Chamblee Dunwoody Road and the side streets listed above will likely be paved in the spring of 2015 following the completion of the utility work.

 

Since 2009, the City has invested over $5,000,000 in repaving its roads.  Each year, approximately 70 percent of the funding is directed towards high traffic volume roads. The remaining 30 percent is applied to the lowest rated neighborhood streets based on the pavement condition assessment.  Since 2009 the City has made significant improvement in the condition of its main thoroughfares with the percentage in good to excellent condition increasing from 45 percent to 60 percent.

 

Georgetown Park Opens With A Flourish

On May 17, the city celebrated the grand opening of the new Georgetown Park.  The opening of the city’s newest park was attended by more than 200 visitors who were treated to games, food truck cuisine, a bounce house, fair hair, face painting and the live music from two Dunwoody-based bands, Missing Cat and Array.

Mayor and City Council members were on hand to cut the ribbon at the new park and community members of all ages visited the park square, pavilion area, children’s playground, and strolled along the Dunwoody Trailway within the park linking the pavilion area and playground.

Numerous trees, flowering shrubs, and water-saving grasses have been installed and new amenities, including new decorative street lights, benches, and garbage receptacles, are in place for visitors use and enjoyment.

Decorative brick work and special lighting create a visual and aural ambiance along the fountain area and the two new bocce ball courts off the Georgetown Park pavilion area are ready for games and play.  The city welcomes everyone to come out and enjoy everything Georgetown Park has to offer.

Brook Run Trail Nearing Final Stretch

Work on the latest segment of the Brook Run Park multi-use trail is about 75 percent complete.  Weather permitting, the city anticipates construction crews will finish the 1.3 mile addition to the multi-use trail at Brook Run Park by the end of July.

The city and its arborist carefully planned the trail’s centerline placement to help reduce the overall number of impacted trees.  Over the past month crews have poured concrete for the remaining segments of the 12-foot wide multi-use trail and will soon begin preparations for the installation of decorative benches and waste/recycling receptacles along the trail route for beautification and convenience.

City inspectors continue close monitoring of all construction activity and work to ensure compliance with Georgia Environmental Protection Division requirements regarding erosion and sediment control.

The latest phase of the 12-foot wide multi-use trail will help open access to areas of the park which often are not frequented by park visitors. The new trail section also will connect with the existing 0.7 mile trail to create a two mile, 12-foot wide concrete multi-use trail loop within Brook Run Park.  As future phases are completed in the coming years, the Dunwoody Trailway will run from Brook Run Park to Chamblee Dunwoody Road and will cover 3.3 total miles.

Dunwoody Nature Center Gets “Decked” Out

Visitors to the Dunwoody Nature Center will be pleasantly surprised at the progress being made in the construction of the expanded classroom space and the public restroom facility.  These two new additions are expected to be complete in late June.

By expanding the facility’s classroom space, camp attendees and program participants will take part in an enhanced visitor experience.  Once the deck is complete, guests attending lectures, classes, programs and special events will be able to enjoy the new deck overlooking the restored meadow.

In addition, the new restroom facility, which will be available to the public at all times during park hours, will help the Nature Center accommodate larger crowds and better facilitate frequent high volume traffic such as school field trips of 100+ visitors during the fall and spring.

Brook Run Building Demolition

The old, unused two single-story buildings, just south of the Veteran’s Memorial and Children’s Playground area situated near the front of Brook Run Park, are in the final stages of being demolished.  The buildings have been torn down to create space for the potential future development of additional park amenities.  The origination of these new amenities comes from the Parks and Open Space Master Plan which included using the space for restroom facilities, sand volleyball, tennis and basketball courts. 

During the demolition process, the contractor discovered the presence of asbestos materials in the foundation. Demolition crews promptly worked with city staff to remove the asbestos-contaminated materials and clean the exposed area pursuant to the Environmental Protection Agency’s strict guidelines.

The demolition is expected to be complete in time for the opening of the latest section of the Brook Run Trail.

Dunwoody Village Main Street Project Readies for Lane Shift

Construction crews continue to make progress on the Dunwoody Village Main Street project.  The new stormwater drains along the south side of the thoroughfare are now complete and crews will be finishing up curbing and driveway entrances on the south side over the next two weeks.  This will be followed by paving work on the south side.  After completion of the south side paving, crews will then shift to commence work on the north side, moving traffic to the south side of the thoroughfare.

The timing of the traffic signals at either end of the parkway (at both Chamblee Dunwoody Road and at Mount Vernon Road) has been adjusted to fixed cycles until the construction is completed.  Once work at these intersections is complete, the signals will be re-set to operate via the inductive-loop traffic detector sensors typically installed at signalized intersections.

The shops, restaurants, and businesses located in the Village Parkway area will remain accessible throughout construction.

The city worked closely with the businesses in Dunwoody Village and continues to conduct proactive outreach and communication on the project.  Main Street project information materials, including a store front project poster and point of sale flyers to display adjacent to registers, are available free of charge for Village businesses by contacting Bob Mullen at 678-382-6881 or bob.mullen@dunwoodyga.gov .

For additional information regarding the Main Street project please contact Michael Smith, Public Works Director, at 678-382-6850 or email michael.smith@dunwoodyga.gov .

Chamblee Dunwoody Road Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements

The city held a Public Information Open House Meeting on June 5 to discuss the proposed pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Chamblee Dunwoody Road.  More than 50 residents and community members attended the meeting to find out more information on the project, ask questions and better understand the planned improvements.

The Chamblee Dunwoody Road corridor lacks on-street bicycle lanes and the sidewalk is only available on the west side of the road beginning at Valley View Road and continuing to Womack Road.  The proposed pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Chamblee Dunwoody Road aim to remedy these deficiencies by widening the road to accommodate bicycle lanes in both directions and a sidewalk on the east side of the road. 

As outlined by the City of Dunwoody's Comprehensive Transportation Plan, the city has adopted a "Complete Streets" policy, which outlines the need for choice, connectivity, and community by providing access for all transportations including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, as well as cars along major routes through the city.

The primary goal of this project is to connect the city’s residential areas to the commercial and municipal amenities that are offered.  However, a secondary result will be improving the visibility to the south for westbound drivers on Womack Road.  Opening up the sidewalk at this intersection will allow the city to remove the right turn on red restriction on Womack.

Where we are able, the city strives will make such improvements in conjunction with other capital improvement projects.  These improvements will be done in conjunction with the proposed replacement of DeKalb County's water main and the city's scheduled resurfacing of Chamblee Dunwoody Road.

Questions and concerns may be sent to Mindy Sanders at mindy.sanders@dunwoodyga.gov.

Dunwoody City Council Agenda - Monday April 13 6pm

Monday, April 13, 2015
Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East
Dunwoody, GA 30346

6 pm Agenda - Watch Live at 6:00 p.m.

Update on CAD-to-CAD System (June 1st start?)

Update on Perimeter Center Zoning Project. - City Docs

Kickoff Meeting Presentation
Core Area – Visual Preference Board
Edge Area – Visual Preference Board
General Area – Visual Preference Board
Streetscape – Visual Preference Board
Tools and Techniques Report
Proposed Overlay Outline
Proposed Zoning District Outline

Proclamation in Observance of National Arbor Day.

FIRST READ: RZ 15-042: Pursuant to the City of Dunwoody Zoning Ordinance, applicant, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, on behalf of owner, Atlanta Office Investments Phase I, L.L.C. c/o KDC Real Estate, seeks permission to rezone property currently zoned Office-Institution (O-I) Conditional District to Local Commercial (C-1) District to allow MARTA to own and operate a new connection to the Dunwoody MARTA station. The subject property is located at 236 Perimeter Center Parkway, Dunwoody, GA, 30346. The tax parcel ID is 18 348 02 015.

FIRST READ: SLUP 15-041: Civic Center Partners, LTD., applicant and owner of 1441 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Dunwoody, GA 30338, seeks the requirement for a building to come into full compliance be waived to allow for building renovations in the Dunwoody Overlay District under the approval of a Special Land Use Permit. The tax parcel number is 18 358 06 017.

Award of Contract 15-01, Construction of Dunwoody Trailway Phase III and Park on Pernoshal Court.

Trail Dunwoody Trailway Ph. 3 Bid Set.pdf   30 MB
Trail Pernoshal Park Bid Set.pdf   59MB
Trail ITB 15-01 Dunwoody Trailway Phase 3 and Pernoshal Park Construction.pdf  5 MB
Trail ITB 15 - Addendum 1.pdf
Trail ITB 15-01 Addendum No 2.pdf
Trail ITB 15-01 Bid Responses.pdf

Approval of Contract Amendment for the Brook Run Park Dormitory Demolition. (Asbestos)

Approval of Tilly Mill at North Peachtree Right of Way Acquisition, Parcel 22 with Brook Run Park Deed.

Resolution in Support of the Dunwoody Nature Center's Milkweed Project (Chesnut Elem is looking forward to project.)

Resolution to Approve the Issuance of an RFP for the Purpose of Conducting a Feasibility Study on Brook Run Theater. (Expecting extensive discussion and changes to the drafted proposal.)

Dunwoody hires ConnectSouth (Austin, Simon & Choate) to lobby on behalf of Dunwoody for property transfer and parks bond money.

The City of Dunwoody negotiating in good faith with the Jones Administration and now the Ellis Administration for a fair an equitable transfer of property took a preliminary step to review other legal avenues at the Monday night city council meeting. The consulting firm of Connect South (Clint Austin, Tony Simon, Sam Choate) were hired by the city at a sum of $55,000 to represent them on legislative issues concerning an equitable transfer of properties as well as the balance of the $11.5 Million dollars that were promised to Brook Run Park during the 2005 Parks bond referendum.

Prior to December 1st, Dunwoody provided DeKalb County provided 30 day notice in a letter stating that the City of Dunwoody intended to take over maintenance and programs in the city parks starting January 1. Under Georgia Law (Georgia Constitution Article IX, § II, Para. III (2008)), DeKalb County cannot operate a park in the City of Dunwoody without Dunwoody’s permission. The reaction of the DeKalb Board of Commissioners at receiving the letter was negative and at least one member of the Board stated that he wanted to padlock the park.

Negotiations between the County and the City are still ongoing and this action by the council was deemed necessary based on the negative reactions of the BOC in order to protect the city's interests. The transfer of the properties and the retention of the bond proceeds that were promised to Brook Run, go hand in hand in order to demolish the abandoned and asbestos filled buildings still located on the property as well as make capital improvements promised to the citizens as part of the Bond Campaign.

In other City business during the meeting, Deputy Police Chief David Sides and Lieutenant David Barnes, both from Marietta, were introduced to the City Council as well our new Finance Director, Mr. John Grotheer.

We now have an official zoning map and the Building Permit moratorium has been lifted (except for signs until the next sign hearing).

The issue of Dunwoody resident homestead tax exemptions came up and it was discussed that the initial IGA draft with the Tax Commissioner has the Tax Commissioner sending the tax bills with homestead exemptions applied to the residents of Dunwoody without the need to reapply but the City has decided that in order to be safe in case of legal challenge, they will be asking city residents to complete another homestead exemption with the City and information will be forthcoming on this in the coming days.

Finally the matter of issuing permits to allow alcohol consumption at Special Events in Dunwoody Parks came up and passed, though the Council already knows that the legislation needs to be tightened up prior to the City Manager issuing the first permit.

Next week's Monday night meeting falls on a holiday and was canceled though the City Council will be in an all day meeting/training session along with staff the next day.

I broke the audio of the meeting into two sections, look at the agenda. The first audio clip is from start until just after the Comcast agreement the second clip starts with the discussion on the homestead exemption until the end, with the ConnectSouth discussion towards the end of the evening.