Georgetown / Shallowford Area Discussion - Tuesday Night

Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 7:00 p.m.

Georgetown/Shallowford Area Discussion

Atrium at Georgetown Park

4355 Georgetown Square

Dunwoody, GA

Tom Spigolon of Dunwoody Neighbor
Dunwoody residents have the power to help control the future appearance of their neighborhoods’ commercial areas — but they need to tell city officials to make it happen.

Residents will have the chance to look at plans and give their input to city officials in a series of three open meetings to help Dunwoody City Council write the city’s first comprehensive land use plan.

The first meeting is scheduled to focus on the Georgetown/Shallowford Road area Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the clubhouse of the Atrium at Georgetown Park, 4355 Georgetown Square.

Mayor Pro-Tem Denis Shortal said the council needs to know how nearby residents want the city’s commercial areas to develop in the next 20 years.

“We want their input,” he said. “In particular, people right near the commercial nodes.”

A Jan. 12 meeting at the Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, will focus on the Jett Ferry/Tilly Mill areas. The final meeting is scheduled for Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, and will focus on the Winters Chapel area.

Tuesday’s meeting is the third focusing on specific commercial “nodes” in Dunwoody following meetings on the Perimeter Mall and Dunwoody Village areas in October and November.

Each meeting includes a Power Point presentation on the specific area and a question and answer session with city officials. Maps and handouts will be available for those attending, said city development director Michael Tuller.

The focus for Tuesday’s meeting, the Georgetown and Shallowford Road area, will include proposals for an area which could be included in state plans for nearby I-285.

The plans, part of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Revive 285, could include a transit station for either buses or light rail at I-285 and Chamblee-Dunwoody Road. Such a facility would need to be incorporated into any 20-year plans, Tuller said.

Shortal said the current economic downturn should not discourage residents from planning for future development simply because new construction is at a relative standstill.

“The economy will turn around,” he said.