Dunwoody Citizens Advisory Capital Improvements Committee agenda for Wednesday includes Path Foundation presentation, conversations on future path plans and a discussion on completed scoring of parks plans.

CITIZENS ADVISORY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE

OCTOBER 26, 2022 - 6:00 PM

DUNWOODY CITY HALL – DUNWOODY HALL

4800 ASHFORD DUNWOODY ROAD

DUNWOODY, GEORGIA 30338

Full Agenda Packet for the Wednesday Evening Meeting

Tonight (Wednesday) at 6 pm the Citizens Advisory Capital Improvements Committee will be meeting at City Hall to discuss their parks scoring priority recommendations to City Council and as these meetings are not recorded I also plan to be attending to hear first hand, their recommendations & conversations. The committee is made up of citizens recommended by City Council and the Mayor; Councilman Tom Lambert, is Chairing the committee and the members are... Remi Bullard, Su Ellis, Steve Ellet, Bob Fiscella, Brian Gee, Joe Martinez, Sarah Smith, Abby Lesorgen, and Mereca Smith.  I would like to thank these members for their time and dedication being put forth.

I'm very glad I attended the last citizen meeting as I raised in public comment that the committee packet was mistakenly missing the Peachtree Middle School Turf project as the City has a 20 year lease on that property and a contract to maintain the field whereby turfing the field would improve playable hours and reduce maintenance costs, thereby being a win / win situation.  Looking at the scores below it appears that the committee agrees with me that this is an important project for the City as all seven member voted for the project and it also has the highest over all weighted score.

Review of Parks Scoring

At tonight's meeting there will also be a discussion on Trails / Paths within the City and the Path Foundation will be presenting what looks to be that same high level presentation given to Council on August 8th.   During the contracting of PATH in August, I questioned how "Greenway Paths" are able to be constructed when we are shoehorning 12 feet of concrete in front of single family homes by clearing the vegetation and leaving it with little or no shade, trees or beauty.  This scenario not what I believe the citizens of Dunwoody want when they say they want trails.

Dunwoody City Councilman Heneghan thoughts on 12 foot city paths and delaying possible bond referendum for improved list of projects. July 11, 2022

Dunwoody Councilman John Heneghan questions Path Foundation regarding 12 foot concrete "greenways" in Dunwoody neighborhoods. August 8, 2022 @PATHFoundation  Aug 15, 2022

Below is the path list I am guessing the citizen committee will be discussing, with most paths being in commercial areas and several like Tilly Mill & Peeler paths being in Residential areas where I have the greatest concern. 

 

There is also an item on the list identified as Nancy Creek Tributary Path that I believe follows a few creeks, unfortunately much like the idea of having a trail across the city under the power transmission lines; I believe that the property for the Nancy Creek Trail is owned by residents and is in the back yards of the people who live there.    Looking at this transportation map that was not included in the packet, it appears there are trail plans (dotted Orange lines) from Dunwoody Elementary down though the Village Oaks neighborhood behind Brook Run which I believe follows the creek and may be the Nancy Creek Tributary Path?  There is also a path near the Walmart and unsure if both of these together are the Nancy Creek Paths?   Unsure if details, but the main question for me remains - whose property are we planing on building a trail upon and will every land owner along the trail path give us an easement to put this trail on their property, usually behind their homes?   In the case of the power transmission line the answer was very clear - no.

 

Anyway this should be an interesting meeting that is only available in person starting at 6 pm and there is public comment available at the beginning and end of the meeting if you would like to say a few words.