Dunwoody City Council Agenda for Monday July 28, 2025 (Comp Plan Public Hearing, Financial Report and Audit for 2024)

DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday July 28, 2025
6:00 PM
DUNWOODY CITY HALL - DUNWOODY HALL
4800 ASHFORD DUNWOODY ROAD
DUNWOODY, GA 30338

Agenda 6 pm  - City Site Agenda

City Council meetings are live-streamed on the City of Dunwoody’s Facebook page.

They are also available for viewing (no two way communication) on Zoom,
https://dunwoodyga-gov.zoom.us/j/85998548170 or  phone +14702509358,,85998548170#

You can access the video after the meeting on the City of Dunwoody’s YouTube page.

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

Administration of Oath of Office to Officer David Perkins

Recognition of Sarv Dharavane (3rd Place in the Scripps National Spelling Bee from Austin Elementary)

Presentation of FY2024 Audit Results

2024 Comprehensive Financial Report

Public Hearing & Action Item - Consent to Transmit Draft 2025 -2045 Comprehensive Plan to the Atlanta
Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for Review

I made a number of comments and pushed various amendments to the Comp Plan but at the end of the day Council included the Neighborhood Transition Opportunities for higher density in many sections of the city which I was against - therefore voted against the plan as a whole.

Approval of a Construction Contract for Old Springhouse Lane Path

Municipal Court Probation Services Contract Renewal

Holiday HQ Proposal

Solar Discussion from the Sustainability Committee

Dunwoody City Hall Facade Lighting

FY2025 Mid-Year Budget Amendment

On 8/7, I updated the documents as I was able to upload them to my servers and I included my recap of Comp Plan Proposed changes.

* I am away from my normal computer system therefore can not upload documents to my servers therefore I recommend you review the city documents on their agenda system where you click onto each agenda item for documentation or you can download the entire packet here.

I recommend citizens with a financial background review the Dunwoody Audit & Comprehensive Financial Report for 2024 as I still have ongoing funding concerns for city expenses namely our rebidding of our contracted business services that was last renewed 5 years ago (at much lower prices than expected this year) as well inflationary pressures for expenses like salaries.  If you have questions for Council or staff, please raise them.

I have had number of citizen conversations regarding the comprehensive plan and my blog posts outlining my concerns & recommendations.  I look forward a conversation with council and then I will offer a few amendments including a few that were suggested by residents that thought I didn't go far enough in tightening up the language.  

I am not against the Holiday HQ proposal to spruce up the business areas but I believe the City Hall Facade Lighting is an overstep, not needed, nor possibly legal within our code if it were not on a governmental building.

Finally the FY2025 Mid-Year Budget Amendment really just cleans up the books as far as revenue received and shuffling a few accounts.  I will be asking about the funds being used for the Brook Run Maintenance Facility as this amendment uses  $461,000 from Unallocated Capital from the Shallowford Road proceeds but I would prefer that those funds be used for only front of house park development instead of a behind the scenes facility.  It may be a minor thing but in the spirit of the reason those funds were obtained I believe that was the intention of past Councils that those funds be allocated for playable park space. If you remember back on April 28th, Council narrowly approved (by a 4 to 3 vote) the $3.3 million back of house facility improvement whereby we only budgeted $1.5 million.  I was against this measure for both the cost over run as well as a portion of the excess funds ($1.5 Million) were coming from the sale of the Shallowford property and that measure mentions another $461K coming from unallocated capital but it didn't say where at that time.  Monday's amendment again shows coming from Shallowford and I would prefer that not be used.

Every Dunwoody Zoning Decision is based on the Comprehensive Plan and there is a Public Hearing Monday July 28th on our direction for the update.

If these are our guiding principles - I am not sure this is what the residents really want?

In the last week or so, I have noticed an uptick of emails & interest from citizens in regard to Dunwoody Zoning issues.  This may have started with the Dunwoody Planning Commission approving the presented updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan with a few minor tweaks and then the Planning Commission recommended approval of a project or two (watch the video) that will be coming in front of Council in the coming weeks.  These types of zoning decisions are based on what is presented in the comprehensive land use plan & I have had my concerns regarding this plan update for months but now it is finally coming to decision.

This coming Monday, July 28th, the Dunwoody City Council will have a public hearing at 6 pm at City Hall at our regularly scheduled meeting for you the citizens to voice your option on the proposed Comprehensive Land Use Plan.  After discussions and possible modifications, Council will then require a decision to Transmit the Draft 2025 -2045 Comprehensive Plan to the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for Review (Allison Stewart-Harris & Richard McLeod) (Action)

On June 6th, I raised major concerns in my blog regarding the proposed allowances in the comp plan for increased residential density that I believe should always come in front of Council, namely any development that may bring 100’s of units to the city (typically Multi-Unit, Mixed Use and Senior/Assisted Living) which will impact neighboring property need council scrutiny.  I am also adamantly opposed to the section entitled Neighborhood Transition Opportunities which would allow higher density on our main thoroughfares where there are currently single-family residences.  Finally, I am opposed to the rezoning of the Civic Campuses, Brook Run Park & Water Works away from their underlying Suburban Neighborhood zoning and would like that removed.

For the last 18 years, the Dunwoody City Council has moved methodically to implement zoning changes whereby we have strengthened the Perimeter Core with new office towers, worked with developers to approve condos on Perimeter Center East and approved new residential towers on the State Farm Complex.  Council has approved numerous town home projects, senior apartments, approved various commercial projects all while buffering or reducing the negative impacts of the approved development away from those residents and businesses that are adjacent to the project.  Each Council-member has their own vision for Dunwoody and collectively I trust those elected to serve, will approve the appropriate projects in the appropriate places for the right reasons as it is not our job to make the lives of developers easy; as we the Council work for the residents of this fair town and they should expect nothing less than our full attention to every detail both pro & con on proposed changes.

In my conversations with staff, this draft Comp Plan can not be delayed in sending to the State until after the Unified Development Ordinance is completed therefore I will raise the following points in discussion after the public hearing on Monday and then move to make the following changes to the Comp Plan prior to our vote to transmit it to the State.  My hope is that Council will have a spirited discussion about what is in the plan, make changes that are appropriate, allow staff to update the document outlining the changes proposed by Council, and hold another hearing in August to be assured that what we are presenting to the State is the vision that our community also has for the growth of the Dunwoody community.
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Open the Draft 2025 -2045 Comprehensive Plan to follow along.

Suburban Neighborhood chart – page 79.   No Changes

Remove Neighborhood Transition Opportunities – page 80 and mentioned in other sections too.

Perimeter Core chart – page 83. Move from Green to Yellow,  Multi-Unit, Senior/Assisted Living & Mixed Use to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.  In the UDO do not eliminate Perimeter Overlay and do not scrap all prior zoning decisions on the books as Sandy Springs did when they rewrote their zoning plans.

Perimeter transition chart – page 85. Move from Green to Yellow,  Senior/Assisted Living & Mixed Use to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.  In the UDO do not eliminate Perimeter Overlay and do not scrap all prior zoning decisions on the books as Sandy Springs did when they rewrote their zoning plans.

Dunwoody Village core chart – page 87.  Move from Green to Yellow,  Senior/Assisted Living & Mixed Use to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.

Dunwoody Village transition chart – page 89.  Move from Green to Yellow,  Senior/Assisted Living to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.

Georgetown West core chart – page 91.  Move from Green to Yellow,  Senior/Assisted Living & Mixed Use to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.

Georgetown West transitional chart – page 93.  Move from Green to Yellow,  Senior/Assisted Living to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.

Georgetown East chart – page 95.  Move from Green to Yellow,  Senior/Assisted Living & Mixed Use to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.

Winters Chapel core chart – page 97.  Move from Green to Yellow,  Multi-Unit, Senior/Assisted Living & Mixed Use to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.  

Winters Chapel transition chart – page 99.  Move from Green to Yellow,  Senior/Assisted Living to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.  

Jett Ferry chart – page 101.  Move from Green to Yellow,  Senior/Assisted Living & Mixed Use to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.

Ashford chart – page 103.  Move from Green to Yellow,  Senior/Assisted Living to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.

Peachtree Boulevard chart – page 105.  Move from Green to Yellow,  Multi-Unit, Senior/Assisted Living & Mixed Use to allow City Council to approve appropriateness of each project on its merits.  

Civic Campuses, Brook Run Park & Water Works areas – pages 106 to 111.  Delete all sections as this is all zoned Suburban Neighborhood and should not change.  Current and proposed uses already allowed.

Dunwoody City Council Agenda for Monday July 14, 2025

DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday July 14, 2025
6:00 PM
DUNWOODY CITY HALL - DUNWOODY HALL
4800 ASHFORD DUNWOODY ROAD
DUNWOODY, GA 30338

Agenda 6 pm  - City Site Agenda

City Council meetings are live-streamed on the City of Dunwoody’s Facebook page.

The City Staff missed printing the Zoom video information for this meeting but the official agenda should be updated with this information Monday morning in the city agenda link above & here.

You can access the video after the meeting on the City of Dunwoody’s YouTube page.

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

Presentation of Medals of Meritorious Service to Officers J. Davis, J. Edwards, T. Wanstreet

Recognition of Class 2025-005 Teen Police Academy Graduates

Administration of Oath of Office to Officer David Perkins 

PUBLIC COMMENTS - Public Comment allows the City Council the opportunity to listen to the public (3 minutes per speaker / 30 minutes total).

City Manager's Report (Eric Linton) 

Spruill Center for the Arts Annual Presentation (Rachel Waldron) 

Resolution Authorizing Participation in an Amicas Brief in the Chang v. City Milton Appeal Pending Before the Georgia Supreme Court

Resolution Appointing DeKalb County Board of Registrations and Elections to Conduct the City of Dunwoody November 4, 2025 General Election, and if Necessary, December 2, 2025 Runoff Election 

Contract Extension with Triscapes for Road and Stormwater Maintenance

Dunwoody Cultural Arts Center HVAC Replacement

Resolution Appointing Members to Serve on the Planning Commission (Thomas O'Brien, Scott Brown & Jeff Moss)

Resolution to Authorize the Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding for a Shared Police SWAT Equipment Vehicle

Approval of Purchase for Axon Police Cameras & Equipment (Chief Carlson) 

Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for Chamblee Dunwoody Bridge Enhancements - $2 Million Dollars.

Approval of a Construction Contract for Old Springhouse Lane Path

Municipal Court Probation Services Contract Renewal