Hallelujah Bob Lundsten - you've done your best, now rest in peace.

Bob Lundsten
April 27, 1953 - January 16, 2019

Bob Lundsten's funeral will be next Thursday, Jan. 24 at 10:30 AM at All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody followed by a reception at the Dunwoody Country Club at Noon.

The Dunwoody community was shocked to learn of the passing of an icon of the local political landscape, Mr. Bob Lundsten.  My prayers go out to the family as the world and this community is a lesser place without him.  I have read many touching tributes to Bob from people who knew him much better than I and as I can not top their sentiments, therefore I have taken the liberty to post a few snipits from the man himself from his previously published blog titled "Dunwoody Farmer Bob".

From his blog headline, this how he saw himself.

From a NJ kid, to sales executive. Homeowners activist, to Chief of Staff for DeKalb County Commission District 1. With a new life direction, I am trying to help as many people as I can through building community, community gardens, feeding the hungry and cutting through the red tape and insanity of local and county governments. Maybe even an occasional commentary now and then.

Bob loved his family and here is a quote on his parenting philosophy.

OK so it is 22 degrees outside, the coldest day of the year I think.  I am driving my daughter’s Camary (actually my mother’s 2002 Camary) with a driver’s window that does not stay up.  It broke under my watch meaning I will pay to get it fixed.  The car was under my control because I volunteered to have her bumper replaced after she had a slight accident.  However, since I was driving when the window stopped working, I am required to get it fixed for her.  It is the law of parenting.

Bob almost lost his wife Kathy to a heart attack so he went out of his way to save countless others by making sure AED's were in every Dunwoody Police Car.

Bob wasn't afraid of trying something new, here is quote on him being a blogger.

 I do not type very well, fail to proof read and use CAPS way too often.

Here is the cake he baked from scratch because he had never done that. 

Ok, it was a Sunday and there was no football on in the afternoon.  I saw the Finest Hours on Saturday so I did not feel like going back to another movie.  All the dogs were fed and sleeping and grocery shopping was done for the week.  1 PM on a Sunday and nothing to do. Then it hit me, I am going to bake cake from scratch.  Yessiree no boxed cake for me today.  This was going to be my first venture in to scratch baking.

Bob had strong political leanings and wasn't afraid to let you know where he stood.  Below is a quote from Bob that still rings true today.

I mourn the loss of political parties that have lost the ability to govern effectively and employ a scorched earth policy that at the end of the day will leave us a weaker nation both internally and across the world. Anger is not an agenda nor is it the foundation for a strong national policy. 

Football

Bob loved Rutgers Football and with the team going 1 - 12 in the Big 10 this year you could say he always rooted for the underdog. That being said, Alabama Crimson Tide was his second love.

Other Favorites of Bob

Best Cake; White Chocolate layer cake from Piece of Cake in Decatur. Now a Dunwoody location        http://www.pieceofcakeinc.com/

Best Cheese Cake; Oreo Cheese Cake at Café Intermezzo   http://www.cafeintermezzo.com/

Best Place to watch a movie; Phipps Plaza AMC, reserved seating, leather reclining seats, drinks

Best place to blow off steam; Quick Shot shooting range.   Clean, bright, good instructors. Ammo, targets.  http://www.quickshotshootingrange.com/

Gardening and food donation

When I was a kid my mom, like thousands of moms everywhere, would look me in the eye when I would not eat my lima beans and say, “there are children all over the world that need that food so eat your vegetables." My smart a@# response would be something like, "well get me an envelope and I will send the lima beans to them.”

I walked the garden yesterday and again was saddened by the waste of the tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers that were left to rot on the vine. We are all so busy I guess we forget that there is a need for this food.

Few months later ...

This weekend I finished up the first half of the new Food Pantry Beds at the Dunwoody Community Garden. We added a 12’x4’ bed along the front perimeter fence and 5 2’x8’ beds from the corner of the garden to about 6 feet from the water pipe. The total new square footage available for the food pantry is over 130sq’. With conservative estimate of2.5 # of food per square foot, that is over 300 pounds for the Food Pantry ant St. Pats. The exact same configuration is already built and waiting to be installed at the back corner. In total that is over 600 pounds of fresh vegetables from space that would have be left unused.

Soon after that the Fugees needed a garden so Bob raised money via social media and built it.

Whenever I have doubts about the path I have taken, whether or not the door that opened in front of me was the door I was supposed to pass through, something happens that tells me it is all good.Last night around dinner time, Pattie Baker and I launched a campaign to raise money for the Fugees, the organization that provides a “hands up” to the children who have moved here after surviving years of war and refugee camps in their native countries. For some reason these kids hit a chord with me

You can bury a lot of troubles diggin’ in the dirt”

Then there was Allen.

This little boy was hell bent on making sure he had a hand in the creation of the new garden rows.  He grabbed the “measurer” and helped us lay out the rows.  He grabbed wood stakes so that we could mark the beds (2 stakes at a time, as he was 4 years old and his hands are not that big).  Finally he grabbed the twine and started to unravel the ball, one slow turn at a time.

What could have been a ten minute project turned into a forty five minute miracle.  As slow as he was, he was determined to help.  You could tell that he wanted to be a part of this garden.  For him I have plenty of time.

Blood / Platelet donation regular

 http://atlantabloodservices.com

 Bob donated platelets 24 times in 12 months and challenged us to do the same, to try it even once.

Hallelujah Bob, Hallelujah

The song Hallelujah is a classic and one that I carry with me all the time. It sticks in my head, makes me think, makes me emotional regardless of where I am.

The final verse that was in the original Cohen release, but often left off during performances, brings it all home to me.

I did my best, it wasn't much

I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch

I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you

And even though

It all went wrong

I'll stand before the Lord of Song

With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

http://youtu.be/3q7TRVOM9KQ

Is it time to allow architectural changes to Dunwoody Village Overlay? Planning Commission Hearing - Tuesday 6 pm

Planning Commission
Tuesday, July 10th
Dunwoody City Hall
4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd

Dunwoody, GA 30338

6:00 p.m. - Watch Live

I'm hearing there's a community buzz regarding Tuesday night's planning commission meeting with the proposal of allowing architectural changes to Dunwoody Village. 

Review and consideration of text amendments regarding the Dunwoody Village Overlay (Chapter 27).

SLUP 18-01: Archie C. Wanamaker, owner of 5419 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338, seeks the following Special Land Use Permits from Chapter 27: 1.) Sec. 27-97(e)(1)(e) to allow for steel headers; 2.) Sec. 27-97(e)(2)(a) to allow for a flat roof; 3.) Sec. 27-97(e)(2)(b) to use a light colored roofing material; 4.) Sec. 27-97(e)(2)(e) to remove any roof projections; 5.) Sec. 27-97(e)(4)(a) to allow black framed all glass doors; 6.) Sec. 27-97(e)(4)(d) to allow square window sections; 7.) Sec. 27-97(e)(4)(f) to allow for non-double hung windows; 8.) Sec. 27-97(e)(4)(g) to allow for square window panes; 9.) Sec. 27-97(e)(4)(h) to remove requirements for shutters; 10.) Sec. 27-97(e)(4)(i) to allow for the use of steel channel headers; 11.) Sec. 27-97(e)(4)(j) to allow for windows to be less than 20 inches above grade; and 12.)  Sec. 27-97(I)(1) to allow for the removal of the landscape island on the mitered corner of the building per the conditioned site plan (SLUP 16-101). The tax parcel number is 18 366 05 009.

On July 1st, the City of Dunwoody Community Development and Economic Development Directors visited the Dunwoody Homeowners Association Meeting to discuss the changes being proposed to the overlay requirements of the Dunwoody Village area. Most of the conversation relates to changes on allowing a greater variety of architectural variety to the Dunwoody Village.  Video of the meeting is linked below.

https://www.facebook.com/TheDHA/videos/10156455407551291/

The DHA then made several position statements regarding the items up for review at Tuesday's Planning Commission and next months City Council Meetings.

On SLUP Application 18-01 for architectural changes to the proposed restaurant on Chamblee Dunwoody & Mount Vernon.

DHA would like the Planning Commission and City Council to review the Dunwoody Village Overlay District Zoning Codes before approving any specific project in the Dunwoody Village Overlay District. We are uncomfortable with the SLUP process which opens the door for spot rezoning. This is directed to the process, not the visual presentation by Crim and Associates.

On proposed changes to the Dunwoody Village Overlay District presented by city staff at the DHA public board meeting on July 1: 

DHA opposes the architectural changes and other controls to the Dunwoody Village Overlay District presented by Richard McLeod on Sunday, July 1st, without well thought out replacements that are publicly vetted by the community.

Finally, past DHA President, DeKalb Planning Commissioner and Chief of Staff to various DeKalb County Commissioners, Mr. Bob Lundsten feels very strongly that the SLUP application to loosen the architectural requirements for one proposed restaurant is improper and that the overlay code should be modified first.  Mr. Lundsten was interviewed on the What's Up Dunwoody Podcast explaining the history and regulations of the village therefore is worth a listen.

I have also received a number of emails on both sides of the topic and have talked to numerous people therefore I also plan to be in attendance at the Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday to listen to the conversations and pubic comment.

If you are interested in watching on-line the meeting is live streamed here. If you would like to make a public statement the meeting starts at 6 pm.   Thanks

Friends of Brookhaven kicks off Police Car AED Drive

Donate Today.

From Farmer Bob's Blog:

"Last night I had the privilege of attending the kick off of the Brookhaven AED Project.  What started with a conversation with the City Manager of Brookhaven ( Marie Garrett) about The Heart of Dunwoody quickly evolved into a full blown Brookhaven campaign to place AEDs in all of their new police cars and City Hall.

The Friends of Brookhaven is a non profit group that was formed to help the new City of Brookhaven with community projects.  When I had mention to Marie what we as a community had done to provide AEDs to our police department she just lit up.

Last night was the kick off to the campaign.  I was honored to be invited  to attend and was asked to speak.  As is my normal pattern, getting me to limit my talk was a challenge, but it led to a real challenge.  I challenged the citizens of Brookhaven to raise the required funds faster then we did here.  The great news for Brookhaven is the City has offered to match all funds raised for AEDs.

December 17th is their goal deadline.  64 AEDs to serve their new city.

We in Dunwoody know that incalculable benefits of having the AEDs.  We have saved lives in Dunwoody because we have them.  There is no better ROI.

So here is my challenge to all the citizens of Brookhaven and Dunwoody, lets beat the deadline and have the AEDs delivered and ready in Brookhaven by December 17th.

Follow the link below to access The Friends of Brookhaven web page.  Click on it and donate.  We will all be safer for your efforts and contributions."

http://www.friendsofbrookhaven.com/

Is Dunwoody ready for legal home-based businesses? Preliminary City committees say Yes, Homeowners say No; City Council discusses it tonight and votes in several weeks.

 What is best for the Dunwoody community?

Is Dunwoody ready for legal home based businesses allowing customer contact?  Piano teachers & tutors add intrinsic value to the residential community but others may not, therefore should we allow the process to move forward as presented or should we create special exemptions for a small class of special businesses?

Should the City Council be allowed to have the ultimate power on all new large scale construction or would it be better to have more community involvement? 

Trees, how much regulation should there be for protection against of clear cutting or removal of large specimen trees or should the city code keep hands off your property rights in this area? 

If your neighbor can't see your boat parked on your property because of a fence, does it matter how close it is to your property line?

What is the harm if someone has more than four fish or houses a pet snake, should code enforcement really be involved in such petty things that will never be enforced? Are "pit bulls" bad or are the trainers of the animal the real issue?  Again, can the proposed zoning code be modified on the fly to "protect" the community from "undesirable" pets while not being overbearing?

Three separate City committee's have reviewed these documents and made suggestions for the next step in the process which takes place tonight at the Special Called City Council meeting at 6pm.  

Last night I attended the Dunwoody Homeowners Association meeting and it looks by the news article below that they also have some reservations on the zoning proposals being presented.  Do you?

I have listened to previous hearings, attended meeting and read many emails but please feel free to voice your opinions on the proposed zoning code if you feel strongly one way or another on the proposed changes.

Comments are open and my email address is John.Heneghan@DunwoodyGA.gov and the entire Dunwoody City Council can be reached at  councilmembers@dunwoodyga.gov

Thanks.

John

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DHA board votes to oppose two provisions of Dunwoody’s zoning rewrite

The board of the Dunwoody Homeowners Association is opposing two controversial provisions in a proposed rewrite of the city’s zoning and building codes.

Board members on Aug. 4 voted to oppose a proposal to allow the Dunwoody City Council to hear required zoning variances for a project as part of a rezoning package. The variances now are considered by the city Zoning Board of Appeals after the zoning is approved.

The DHA board also sided against a proposal to allow operators of home-based businesses to bring customers to their homes without a Special Land Use Permit.

Dunwoody city officials are considering an extensive revision of the city’s zoning and building codes. Dunwoody’s present codes were copied from DeKalb County when the city was creaed, city staff members say, and the rewrite is intended to make the codes reflect the needs and opinion of Dunwoody residents.
Proposed revisions to the code have been debated by several city commissions and a citizens’ “sounding board.” Dunwoody City Council is scheduled to debate the revisions Aug. 5, in a meeting set to begin at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 41 Perimeter Center East.  (See more in link above - Dunwoody Reporter)

Zoning Code Rewrite: More Absolute Power for the Council and Businesses in Your Backyard.

The rights and protections of single family homes and our residential neighborhoods out weighs the right for a person to run a business with customer contact in those neighborhoods. The argument about property rights is misplaced as ZONING itself limits ones use of their private property. If you bought or live in a single family home, you have the RIGHT that the neighborhood will stay that way.

The second issue involves a process called variances. Under the current code a landowner get a property rezoned by going through the public process, Community Council, Planning Commission and finally the City Council. Zoning changes what uses that you can develop on your property.

Variance on the other hand, alters the development guidelines for the projects that are being designed and ultimately built on these sights. Currently the City Council rezones and the Board of Appeals grant any variance. Having to Boards, both with some level of judicial powers allows a project to be considered and reviewed by to separate commissions each following different criteria in their respective review.

Without boring everyone, the new code will allow the city council to take over the power of the Board of Appeals.  (See more in link above - Dunwoody Farmer Bob).

Section 27-10.40 Household Pets
No more than 3 household pets may be kept on any lot in a residential zoning district, except that on lots exceeding 2 acres in area, one additional household pet may be kept for each additional acre of lot area in excess of 2 acres, up to a maximum of 10 household pets. Litters of animals of not more than 6 months of age are not counted for the purpose of calculating the total number of household pets on a lot in a residential zoning district.

Household pet means a domestic companion animal that is customarily kept for personal use and enjoyment including domestic dogs, domestic cats, canaries, parrots, parakeets, domestic tropical birds, hamsters and guinea pigs. Household pet does not include livestock, poultry, pot belly pigs, pit bulls, or snakes.

3rd life saved in 5 years - Atlanta media outlets focus on Dunwoody Officer and AED's in every take home police car.

Video

 Video

 Video

Christopher Irwin is feeling pretty good because he saved someone's life. Rather than go home at the end of his shift last week, the Dunwoody police officer decided to take one more call.

"The call came out as CPR in progress. Once I arrived, I grabbed my AED out of my trunk and ran up to the 10th floor along with some bystanders who were flagging me down, showing me where to go," said Irwin.

Irwin took over CPR from a bystander and then used his automated external defibrillator or AED. The machines shock patients to get their hearts started again.

"There is a little green button you push and it walks you through how to use it. There are pictures and it is pretty simple to use. Somebody with no training can use it," Irwin said.

Irwin was eventually joined by DeKalb County firefighters. They teamed up to stabilize the victim.
"Without the teamwork of everybody and the fact that I had the piece of equipment that I needed, I don't think he would have made it," Irwin said.

The 55-year-old man was rushed to the hospital. Irwin said it appears the man will be OK.
 http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/22820041/dunwoody-officers-detour-saves-mans-life

A Dunwoody police officer is being called a hero for helping save the life of a man who went into cardiac arrest. The officer says he was only able to help because every Dunwoody patrol car is outfitted with the right equipment.

Officer Chris Irwin was on his way home after a 12-hour shift with the Dunwoody Police Department. But when a medical call came across his radio, he just couldn't ignore it. He turned his patrol car around and headed to the office building where the 911 call came from.

But he hesitates to call himself a hero.

"I didn't do anything that I don't believe any law enforcement or public safety personnel wouldn't do," said Irwin.

Irwin's first instinct was to grab the automated external defibrillator issued to every Dunwoody officer.

"If I'd not had that AED, he would not have made it," said Irwin.

Bob Lundsten approached city leaders back in 2009 about purchasing AEDs for every Dunwoody patrol car, but the money wasn't in the budget. He spearheaded a fundraising campaign called "The Heart of Dunwoody" because his wife went into cardiac arrest some years earlier.

"An AED in a police car is just as important the flares, the flashers, the radio, the computers -- because an AED, when deployed, saves a life," said Lundsten.

Dunwoody is one of the few law enforcement agencies in metro Atlanta that issues AEDs to its officers as standard equipment. Lundsten says he recently talked with city leaders in Brookhaven about doing the same.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/22819190/dunwoody-officer-hailed-s

Other related stories.

http://www.dunwoodyfarmerbob.com/2013/07/dunwoody-pd-officer-iriwn-save-life.html

http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com/2009/06/heart-of-dunwoody-gift-of-life-from.html

http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com/2009/12/heart-of-dunwoody-successfully-places.html

http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com/2009/09/heart-of-dunwoody-provideds-aeds-to.html

http://www.aedbrands.com/blog/2011/02/18/dunwoody-officer-uses-aed-training-to-save-a-life/

 http://dunwoodytalk.blogspot.com/2013/07/dunwoody-police-officer-helps-save-liife.html

http://dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com/2009/05/if-i-cant-have-dr-robert-albin-as.html

Dunwoody Police Officer Christopher Irwin saves life with AED - Facebook

Officer Irwin

If you don't follow or "like" the Dunwoody Police Department on Facebook, please do so as I consider it an important news source for the entire community with regular updates.  The link is below as is a sampling of the soon to be 700 "likes" and numerous comments.  I couldn't be prouder of Officer Christopher Irwin and the professionalism shown by the Department every single day.  Thank you.

Dunwoody Police Department

Officer Irwin had just gone off-duty and was headed home when a medical emergency call was dispatched on Crown Point Parkway. The officer turned his patrol car around and responded to the scene with lights & siren. Upon the officer’s arrival he saw that the subject was in cardiac arrest. Officer Irwin immediately deployed his AED (automated external defibrillator) and continued CPR with the help from a civilian. The AED deployed three defibrillations “shocks” to the subjects. DeKalb Fire Rescue arrived on scene and resumed CPR. The subject’s heart beat and breathing was restored and he was transported to St. Joseph’s. Officer Irwin remembered his training and helped in saving a life yesterday. Good Job Officer Irwin.

• 669 others like this.
• Awesome 
• Good job Irwin!
• Thanks for your service
• What a cool dude! He saved a life! Thank you!
• Awesome job!!!! 
• Not sure how many of us would turn around once off work but thankful that this hero did! We have an amazing police force, Dunwoody - thank you to each one of you, and today's especially Officer Irwin!
• Awesome!
• FANTASTIC!!!!
• Way to go Officer Irwin!!!
• An Exceptional Merit Award is in order.
• That dunwoody police officers for you!! Great job Irwin
• Great job !
• Dedication to his career.
• Thank you for serving!
• wow! awesome work!!!! a++++++
• Awesome!
• Woo hoo officer Irwin!!! Thank you
• Thank you Officer Irwin!
• Awesome!
• kudos for him going that extra mile!
• This is AWESOME! Hopefully, Officer Irwin and the bystander will be recognized by the Mayor and Council for their actions. Great job and with their intervention, a perfect example of this past May's theme for EMS Week..."One Mission. One Team."
• Great great job Officer Irwin! Thank you for being Dunwoody PD! To the "mob" complaining about other things going on in our City, isn't this enough reason to be proud of our City? And thanks again to Bob Lundsten for making sure our officers have those AEDs. I know how happy they are to have them, and to not be put in situations where they feel helpless to act.
• Good. Job. Officer. Ivern. I. Slatue. Sir

  
  
• Outstanding!

  
  
• Outstanding job! Thanks again to DPD and Officer Irwin for all they do.

  
  
• That's why Take Home Patrol Cars should Be A Perk For Every Department!!!! Great Job. Faster Response Even If Off Duty.

  
  
• Officer Irwin and the rest of his brother and sister officers are great examples of why we are so very proud of our DPD!

  
  
• I love my DPD! Thank you!!!!

  
  
• Thank you to one of our community heroes!

  
  
• Wow! How does it feel to know you saved someone's life with your own hands?

  
  
•   If the officer did not have an assigned, issued take home vehicle, then the officer would have been prohibited to stop and would not have rendered aid.. That's the beauty of having every officer assigned to their very own car.. Good job officer, good job Dunwoody Police...

  
  
• Like, like, like, like, like....
• Great Job

  
  
• Great job.

  
  
• Awesome!

  
  
• Dunwoody is so glad to have such accomplished Law Enforcement Officers!!!

  
  
• He saved a baby in Marietta once, too. He's a lifesaver! Good job, Chris!

  
  
• Great Job

  
  
• We are so Lucky to have Great Policeman in Dunwoody. Our Chief picks the BEST.

  
  
• Thank you Officer Irwin. Life is precious and you recognize this.

  
  
• Thank you officer Irwin for going out of your way for others

  
  
• Great Job! If i need you I'll call.Never know about that ticker!

  
  
• Thank you Officer Irwin!