Sunday, September 25, 2016

DeKalb District Attorney elect Sherry Boston to give update during Dunwoody City Council meeting of Mon Sept 26th.

Monday, September 26, 2016
Dunwoody City Hall
41 Perimeter Center East
Dunwoody, GA 30346
Watch Live at 6:00 p.m.
6 pm Agenda

Update from District Attorney-Elect Sherry Boston.


Administer Oath of Office to Police Officer Megan Norris.

SECOND READ: An Ordinance to Grant Permanent Stormwater Drainage Maintenance Easements to Atlanta Office Investment.

SECOND READ: An Ordinance to Amend the Pedestrian Bridge Easement Agreement with Atlanta Office Investment.

SECOND READ: An Ordinance to Grant a Temporary Construction Easement for RoadwayConstruction to Atlanta Office Investment.

Amendment of Contract 16-03 With Diversified Construction - Donaldson Restroom.

SECOND READ: SLUP 16-091: David Blumenthal, on behalf of Dirk Laukien, owner of
5490 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338, seeks a Special Land Use Permitfrom Chapter 27-97(g)(1) to exceed the maximum allowed parking in the Dunwoody Village Overlay District. The tax parcel number is 18 366 01 013.

SECOND READ: SLUP 16-092: Transwestern, applicant of a portion of 1134 HammondRoad and 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Drive, Dunwoody, GA 30346, by Jessica Hill, attorneyfor the applicant, seeks Special Land Use Permit from Chapter 27, Section 27-73(b)(1) toincrease the building height in a C-1 (Commercial) District from 2 stories/35 feet to 20 stories/300 feet. The tax parcel numbers are 18 348 01 020 and 18 348 01 006.

Approve Purchase of Furniture and Equipment from Bank of the Ozarks
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2 comments:

  1. Tom TaylorSeptember 25, 2016 at 9:31 PM

    Sherry Boston is a great breath of fresh air to DeKalb County. Will be a superb DA.

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  2. John HeneghanSeptember 27, 2016 at 8:35 AM

    Sherry Boston was spot on in her presentation touching on many of the points I raised and I am sorry I didn’t record the speech. It was that good.

    Most mundane items were passed as presented but the two SLUPS (Special Land Use Permits) were discussed whereby we passed one but deferred the other.

    The SLUP to allow an increase to the parking allowance on the old Hickory House property was passed. Council received a great amount of feedback that the community would prefer a restaurant at that location but a bank is an allowable use as per code and not agreeing to the parking modification on those grounds would be cause for a lawsuit. Council has already approved other modifications in the area for other parking SLUP applications and in fairness this developer has worked diligently with the City to offer a quality development.

    The SLUP to allow an increase in height for an office building next to the MARTA station to go from 2 stories to 20 stories was discussed heavily by Council. There were three lines of questioning, a traffic study that was requested by staff but was not completed by the developer (technically not required for a project of this size but the refusal indicates a lack due diligence & cooperation), the lack of functional green space including the addition of public gathering spaces or pocket parks and finally there was a line of questioning from several on the overall height of the building.

    As far as my thoughts on the three items, the lack of the traffic study for a single building did not surprise me as we have reviewed the extensive traffic studies from much larger developments but when I heard the developer was requested by staff to do one and they decided against it; it did rub me wrong. That being said, this proposed office building will be connected directly into the Dunwoody MARTA Station and therefore I couldn’t think of a better place for a 20 story office building. The lack of green space and gathering spaces in the perimeter area is an area of great concern for Council and this development adds little or nothing to the community in this regard. There was a discussion during the Planning Commission regarding the possible park opportunity under the Marta tracks and maybe there can be a nexus here for the improvement of that property? That land is owned by Perimeter Mall who is also the seller of the land to make this development happen therefore maybe there can be a way for the Mall and Transwestern to together find a way to add green space and public spaces to the area? Looking at the site plan, I see a small patch of grass in front of the Marta parking deck on Hammond and if the developer could find a way to make that small space pleasing to eye with architectural interest as a small out door gathering space (possibly a fountain with seating), that might satisfy Councils desire request for a public gathering space? I don’t have the answers regarding the solution to the lack of green space in this project but maybe the developer and staff can find a way to address the issue in the coming weeks? Finally, there was a minor line of questioning regarding overall building height, going from the allowed 2 stories to at one time a possible 16 stories request and then finally a 20 story application & request. Some Council members were asking if a roll back in height was feasible and the answer from the developer was “No, not at this time”. My guess is that tenants may have been secured for the full use of the building therefore cutting the building in half would not workable nor be economically feasible to move forward. Being that this building is planned to be directly connected to Marta, I personally didn’t have an issue with the height requested as that would be highest and best use for the land.

    After extensive questioning of the five councilors present (Terry & Pam were absent), it was decided to defer the item for two weeks to allow the developer time to address the issues raised with staff.

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