Monday, July 9, 2018

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

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

Friday, July 6, 2018

U.S. Postal Service offers Informed Delivery to see your mail before it arrives in your mailbox.

https://www.usps.com/

I have been using the U.S. Post Office's Informed Delivery on-line notification service for about a week and it has pretty much worked as promised showing me digital photos of every letter that will be showing up in my mailbox that afternoon.  It isn't something I would review on a regular basis but it is nice having an email arrive in the background every morning showing me whats going to be delivered.  If I was waiting on a check or other important piece of mail, it is nice knowing that I have ther service running in the background where I can see what is coming and can review past history on the USPS website.

After reading so many items lately on mail fraud and mail box security, I figured this was something worth sharing.

To set up, go to https://www.usps.com and register an account with your address. then set your Informed Delivery notification options.      https://informeddelivery.usps.com

It's Chesnut Elementary's 50th Birthday!!!

Kristin & I were Chesnut Parents for 13 consecutive years so if you too have enjoyed being a part of the Chesnut community please share why the school is so special!

My favorite elementary school is celebrating 50 years in Dunwoody!!

-2018 marks Chesnut Elementary’s 50th birthday
-We know current and former Chesnut Cougars will have lots and lots to say!
-So tell us ...what is it you love/had loved about being a Chesnut Cougar that has/had been so great?
-And that has given Dunwoody families such warm memories of this little school since 1968? 
Please send an email (as succinct as possible) to 50reasons@chesnutelementary.com and kindly include name, age (year graduated or Chesnut age/grade in 2018-19). If you are a staff member or former staff member, please include info. If you are a parent/former parent, you are welcome to reply as well. The bulk of the responses we choose are planned to be from current and former students and staff. We cannot wait to share so many amazing reasons to love Chesnut!!
We are looking to have all submissions by 7/23.

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Dunwoody Homeowners Association hosts Georgia's Largest 4th of July Parade - kicking off Wednesday at 9 a.m.


On Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at 9:00 a.m., the Dunwoody Homeowners Association and the Dunwoody Crier Newspaper will host the annual Fourth of July Parade featuring marching bands, floats, clowns, animal units and local celebrities. Last year the parade attracted over 2,500 participants and 32,000 spectators!

This year’s theme is "Dunwoody Salutes America and the Arts", and the Grand Marshall is Bob Kinsey, CEO, Spruill Center for the Arts.

The parade route is two (2) miles, starting at the intersection of Mount Vernon Road and Jett Ferry Road at 9:00 a.m., proceeds west on Mount Vernon Road to Dunwoody Village, turns right onto Dunwoody Village Parkway.

Viewing Information: Parade spectators are encouraged to setup chairs along Mount Vernon Road and Dunwoody Village Parkway (up to the shops on the right and the parade entrance into Dunwoody Village.) Spectators will be blocked from viewing the parade on the east side of Jett Ferry Road on Mount Vernon Road due to the staging and setup for parade participants. Viewing will start on the west side of Jett Ferry Road on Mount Vernon Road.

Dunwoody Boy Scout Troop 764 from St. Luke’s Presbyterian will collect food along the parade route for the Community Assistance Center (CAC) Food Pantry. The troop plans to enter a scouting themed float in the parade and will be pushing grocery carts along-side to collect the food donations.


After the parade join in the fun at the post parade festival in front of the U.S. Post Office in Dunwoody Village for family fun and great food!

Traffic Information: Mt. Vernon Road, between Jett Ferry Road and Dunwoody Village, will be closed from 8:40 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. (times are approximate; contact the Dunwoody Police Department about road closures and traffic information.)

City of Dunwoody Parks events for July 2018