An email sent by Tammy Anderson, the wife of the former City Attorney Brian Anderson hit my inbox several times this evening by residents asking my opinion of what was written. The letter is posted down below for all to see but it also mimics Ms. Anderson's question at the Political Forum for Young Families therefore I will use it and the answers provided by Candidates
Heyward Westcott and
Doug Thompson as both were spot on as far as the "Grandfathering" is concerned.
Zoning entitlements can not be taken away as Tammy states and the email miscommunication on her part almost seems deliberate. When attempting to sway last minute public opinion (like in this election), there is a tactic to use what is called
"FUD" which stands for Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt to influence perception by
disseminating negative and dubious or false information. The "Clean Slate" platform has little substance and few facts in which to have a real platform to move this city forward therefore we are witnessing that a negative campaign is now being waged.
Please allow me to raise several facts.
Fact - 6,000 apartments are not pre-approved in Dunwoody and to verify my statement
pull up this link and follow the directions.
Second, while looking at the pre-approved entitlements on the City of
Dunwoody GIS System, remember that State Farm just bought the Novarre
Site that is kiddy corner from the Dunwoody Station therefore say
goodbye to those possible 900 condos that were pre-approved because
State Farm will only want office space. Click everything that is red on
the city site and you will have a very hard time finding much
residential except for the High Street project.
Fact - the current City Council has worked to limit residential
density for years by modifying every master plan to almost specifically
state that. Below are a few articles I posted.
Residential density in the City of Dunwoody
Tonight is the Public Hearing on the Dunwoody 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Facts on the High Street Development
High Street has the
zoning entitlement rights
to install a very large mixed use development with office, retail,
hotel and residential. The residential aspect includes 1,500 condos and
1,500 apartments but as the two candidates stated, it will be the
negotiation process where these numbers will be lowered.
Location: Hammond Drive and Perimeter Center Parkway (NW Corner)
Entitlements: 400,000 square feet of new office (235,000 square feet of existing office space), 400,000 square feet of retail, 400 room hotel, 1,500 condos, 1,500 rental units
Notes SLUP 07-13538, Z 07-13537 (previously Z 07-4251), A 07-14012
Finally the negative campaign is now being documented by various Dunwoody Blogs that I think you should read. The first is Former Candidate, Bob Fiscella who wrote an interesting article entitled;
Teddy Roosevelt Says Sweep Aside The Clean Sweepers
then there is Farmer Bob's take
The Smear Campaign: Cleensweep Campaign Sinks or Stinks To A New Level of Negative Campaigning
Finally below is the letter from Ms. Anderson that she sent far and wide in the Dunwoody Community. Please don't be afraid of the letter as you now have the Facts over FUD.
Subject: Fwd: Stop
3,000+ apartments from being built in Dunwoody
Hey all,
I am sending this out to you because you are the movers and shakers in
your neighborhoods. This is crucial information for anyone voting on
November 5th.
Please, no matter who we like or who we are neighbors with, this election is
about who will vote to change our zoning to stop Projects that don't
have Vested Rights. Please send this out to anyone who cares about our
schools.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION - DUNWOODY CITY COUNCIL ELECTION – TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 5
Very few homeowners are aware that just 10 days ago on October 21 the
Dunwoody City Council voted to approve the zoning code re-write that
included “grandfathering” variances and allowing up to 3,000 apartments
in a project called High Street and up to 6000 new apartments across
the city.
The proposed High Street development project located at Perimeter
Center Parkway and Hammond Dr. would add up to another 3,000
apartments/condos and increase the overall number of apartments in
Dunwoody by 30%. This will dramatically affect our schools and traffic
infrastructure. Since there are roughly 10,300 single family homes and
10,300 apartments in Dunwoody equaling a 50-50 balance, another 3,000
apartments will significantly upset this balance.
This election is pivotal. If the zoning code is not changed, Dunwoody
will become an apartment community versus a single family home
community. The impact on schools and infrastructure will be devastating.
The Dunwoody City Council claims they cannot change the zoning code to
address this apartment “grandfathering.” This is absolutely false – the
Dunwoody City Council has the authority to address this problem. Sandy
Springs immediately and effectively used zoning, code enforcement and
impact fees to control development in their new city. The Dunwoody City
Council did just the opposite by taking 5 years to pass a zoning code
re-write that allows the very apartment development they promised to
control when becoming a city.
The November 5th election is crucial and the choice is clear. Stop
“grandfathered” DeKalb County apartment projects.
VOTE YES - FOR DUNWOODY
VOTE YES - FOR HENLY SHELTON, DISTRICT 1
VOTE YES - FOR JIM RITICHER, DISTRICT 2
VOTE YES - FOR SAM EADS, DISTRICT 3
VOTE YES - FOR TAKING BACK DUNWOODY
Thanks,
Tammy Anderson
