This morning I received an email from a resident asking for updates and or the documents related the improvements proposed to Brook Run Park in relation to the stream buffer variance that will be coming in front of the City Council next Monday. The City Council has not received the meeting packet yet but I have forwarded the resident questions to our Parks Director, Mr. Brent Walker, and Public Works Director, Mr. Michael Smith who provided me with some documents as well as answers to the questions asked. I have yet to go through the 97 pages of construction documents with a fine-toothed comb but I do see that a total of 437 trees are listed in the demolition plan, and that there will also be two, lit artificial turf soccer/lacrosse fields constructed along with three restroom facilities, a concession stand, a band shell (set among the trees) with a great lawn, numerous new parking spaces and a new back entrance to the facility.
Not having the full details for the meeting on Monday, I believe the construction plans already approved by Council is basically irrelevant as the question in front of council as we will not be looking at playing surfaces and various improvements for generations to enjoy but instead will be looking at the stream buffers, stream protection, updated
hydrology reports, water quality, and water flow through those buffers if a variance is requested.
By State mandate, no disturbance is allowed within fifty feet of the stream whereby there is a no disturb policy of 25 feet on each side of the stream. This also correlates with
the deed on the property.
The City of Dunwoody has extended the State protections by putting policy into place protecting the next 50 feet of each side the stream which is known as the 75 ft buffer (25 ft State + 50 ft Dunwoody). When the City extended the required buffer protections, we also put into place a way for the City to grant variances in order to grant relief to those who can prove that due diligence was being done, whereby furthering protections put into place to compensate for the disturbance near a stream (but not closer than 25 ft). I look forward to reviewing the full packet of information for Monday's meeting (usually received on Thursday?) and will be looking to protect the community from the requested encroachment into the buffer. Thanks
Brent / Michael,
Can you please provide me the full site plans as requested below if they exist and explain the status of each item if we are still in the planning stages.
The latest Revision of site plans which Council approved seem not available to the public, and maybe to Council?
Still missing site plans, if they were approved, are the following (as I mentioned in my original attached email.)
1. Pavillion and Parking (across the street from the new Great Lawn, buffer violation ?), Attached images
2. Disc Golf (along a stream, possible buffer violation ?), There will be no land disturbance done within the buffer for disc golf.
3. Maintenance Facility changes (new access driveway on Peeler Rd.), This is shown in the master plan but there is no current construction timeline
4. Zip Line area - storage area ? We have a small storage yard for public works and parks at the dead end past Treetop Quest. The master plan calls for a future pavilion there. Once the construction time line is established for the renovations of the maintenance facility we will move the storage area to the maintenance yard.
5. New sidewalk off Peeler Rd near the Zip Line ? ( the 10' length at the Marta stop to the trail at Cherring is needed) Once the sidewalk is completed along Peeler Rd we will connect a new sidewalk entrance into the park at that location.
Thanks
John
