North Decatur Road Initiative: Design Presentation [June 21]

From June 7, 2023 presentation

 Per Decatur Next...

Proposed designs, based on prior input from prior sessions, will be shared on Wednesday, June 21 from 6-8pm, at the North Decatur Presbyterian Church, 611 Medlock Road. There will be a presentation, followed by Q&A, followed by an opportunity for further community input. Please arrive by 6pm. 

Notes and slides from the presentation on June 7 can be found here.

North Decatur Road Initiative Notes (6-7-2023)

From June 7, 2023 presentation

Big thanks to Monica Morgan for providing this summmary of the June 7 meeting:

"Quick recap of the meeting this evening in case you missed it, and info below on the meeting tomorrow.

The section of N. Decatur Rd. and sidewalks from approx the six-way intersection up to Webster Dr. will have some changes - could be minimal, could be quite significant, dependent on public input.

WHAT: Presentation of N. Decatur road study- a range of options were presented to address safety concerns, traffic, and drainage. Details, impacts, and costs were all presented. Lane changes, turn lanes, roundabout, sidewalks, crosswalks… etc.

GOAL: To gather public comment and determine what the neighbors’ priorities are.

If you weren’t able to attend the meeting but want to learn more and give your feedback there’s another meeting on JUNE 8th 6-8pm at Decatur Recreation Center (231 Sycamore Street). The same information will be shared.

If you are able, please attend tomorrow and give your feedback! This is how they’ll decide what direction to go with the design. They did a quick digital poll with us while we were in the room using our mobile devices."

To access the slides of the presentation, click here.

Findings of North Decatur Rd. Initiative

The City of Decatur is sharing findings of its North Decatur Initiative Transportation Study. This relates to improvements to the North Decatur Rd and Superior Ave. intersection.

Image from https://www.decaturnext.com/2022/11/17/n-decatur-road-kickoff/

 

Please join 6-8PM on June 7th at North Decatur Presbyterian Church (611 Medlock Road) or June 8th at Decatur Recreation Center (231 Sycamore Street) for a presentation of the findings and an opportunity for the public to provide input regarding the path forward. 
The same information will be shared at both meetings; please join at 6PM to avoid missing the presentation. 

Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

CARA SCHARER, PE (she/her)
Senior Engineer
City of Decatur
Public Works Department

Closer to crossing

Blackmon Drive (Medlock neighborhood, Scott Blvd. intersection) is not yet closed to inbound traffic... but we are almost there.

A red circle marks the spot in this composite view
of new/redeveloped/soon-to-be-redeveloped commercial spaces near the Medlock neighborhood.

Traffic and crossing lights are now installed, if not yet operational. Soon, pedestrians and cyclists will have a safer access point to/from "Decatur Crossing"--Fuqua's development at the former site of the Scott Blvd. Baptist Church and nearby lots.

As seen from your bike  as you approach the Blackmon/Scott Blvd. intersection. Click to enlarge.

Soon--you!, with your parcels, your full belly, getting ready to hit the crossing light and head on home.

Sprouts has been open for about a month now and seems to be drawing good crowds.

Behind Sprouts, on the Scott Blvd. side, a Zoe's Kitchen and The Joint Chiropractic are well on their way.

Across from Sprouts, North Decatur Rd. side, there will be a First Watch (a breakfast/lunch restaurant, see article about it here, opens April 10) and a Banfield Pet Hospital.

Visible to the right is part of a Point on Scott apartment building.

PATH updates

DeKalb County and federal funds are helping the PATH foundation make great progress on the trail that will connect Mason Mill Park to North Druid Hills Road. The expected completion date is June 2018.

PATH also says that the design phase has begun for the trail section that will connect the South Peachtree Creek trail to the Emory campus, crossing Clairmont Road near the VA Hospital. Fingers crossed, that path will be available in 2018.

To read their press release, go here.

Conditions approved for N. Druid Hills Rd. development

via Google Maps

Per neighborhood queries, we have obtained a copy of the conditions attached to the re-zoning of the property located at the old driving range (Grand Slam Golf and Baseball, 3352 North Druid Hills Rd.). This re-zoning was approved on January, 2017. Rezoning conditions were negotiated by the Leafmore Creek Park Hill Civic Association (LCPHCA).

The development will include 72 townhomes. Three acres of land at the property's east end (by Burnt Fork Creek) will be placed in a conservation trust and protected from future development. Additional permits will be needed before the driving range closes and the property is redeveloped.

Image from re-zoning document (pdf), January 2017.

The list of conditions and associated documents can be accessed here (pdf).

The AJC has updates on some of the tenants that will set up shop in North Decatur Square (former site of the Nalley dealership at the corner of North Decatur Rd. and Church St.). The redevelopment is anchored by a 365 by Whole Foods, set to open in Fall 2018 and also includes ~288 apartments (to open in spring 2019).

Opening in Fall 2018 are:  Hollywood Feed (a "natural and holistic" pet food and supplies store that also offers grooming and self-serve dog wash stations),  Avalon Nail Spa, Sage Dental, "gusto! Wood Fire Grill" [it's unclear if this is a gusto! and separate restaurant called Wood Fire Grill or a new concept by that name] , and Takorea (a Mexican/Korean fusion restaurant).

To see previous posts on this redevelopment project, click here.

Emory Campus Traffic Advisory [Oct 1]

via Emory University...

"Several roads on and adjacent to the Emory University campus will experience lane closures between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, due to the 6th annual Winship Win the Fight 5K, in which more than 3,000 walkers and runners are expected to participate: 

• North Decatur Road between Haygood Drive and Clifton Road will have only one lane open in each direction from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 

• The westbound lane of North Decatur Road, from Clifton Road to the roundabout at Oxford Road, will be closed between 8:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m., open eastbound only. 

• Oxford Road, from the roundabout to Eagle Row, will be closed northbound between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., open southbound toward the roundabout. Motorists should avoid the area if possible. Those traveling in the area should expect delays until 10:00 a.m"

Registration for the Winship 5K ends September 29.

SJ Collins development agreement with the Community

This image highlights the new development in context (Suburban Plaza redevelopment & former site of Scott Blvd. Baptist and adjacent plots being redeveloped by Fuqua Development). Image via SJ Collins.

SJ Collins (developer of the parcel at the corner of North Decatur Rd. and Church St.), working with the DeKalb Cross-Neighborhoods Council (DCNC), signed off on a zoning agreement and conditions based on the input of neighborhood representatives.

Some highlights:

• traffic enhancements such as thermoplastic pedestrian crossings throughout, a new traffic signal and an upgrade the timing system to coordinate new and existing lights
• $100,000 towards the installation of a traffic light with pedestrian crossing at the Church St. and Milscott Dr. intersection
• 10% of the units in the multi-family residential building will be priced as workforce housing (and reserved for residents demonstrating income at or below 80% of area median income)
• these agreements apply to any future owners of this property. That includes making good faith efforts with any future adjacent developments to maintain connectivity between the properties.
• 1 acre of open public space was negotiated
• utilities will be under ground
• bike racks will be available around the development, one near the grocery store
• a contact person will be available to address concerns during the construction phase; construction traffic will be routed away from residential streets

Click on the links to see the conditions attached to this development's approval:

• Zoning Agreement (pdf)
• Conditions (pdf)

UPDATE: SJ Collins has issued a press release and their website has links to

• a flyer with development details and  
• a site plan. 
• Atlanta Curbed has some additional images here.

Site Plan per SJ Collins's website

Bonus content: The DeKalb Neighborhood Newspaper reports on this development. (10/4/2016)

Lawrenceville townhomes, SJ Collins development approved

A very quick zoning update... At last night's meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved these two nearby projects. Click on the links to see all our content on these developments:

• SJ Collins development at the corner of Church St. and North Decatur Road
• Townhome development at Lawrenceville Hwy (between Orion and Hollywood Drives)

Application hearing for proposed townhomes on Lawrenceville Hwy. [Sept 27]

This application will be heard at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday (9/27) 6:30 pm at the Maloof Building.

via Erik Spavins, President of the Greater Valley Brook Civic Association

Click to enlarge.

Neighbors,

Last Thursday, Commissioner Kathy Gannon invited several local leaders to discuss the townhomes proposed for Lawrenceville Highway between Orion and Hollywood Drives. The attendees were: the board of the Greater Valley Brook Civic Association (Erik Spalvins, Kenna Simmons, Jack Barnes, Kimberly Merritt and Elizabeth Roberts), Jim Smith (Dekalb Cross Neighborhood Council), Susan Rossi (Community Council Representative), Jane Donofrio (president of the Little Creek Farm Conservancy) and Mike Cooper (Representative of Little Creek Farm Conservancy) , Davis Fox (Policy and Projects Manager for Commissioner Gannon), and staff of the Dekalb County Planning Department.

We discussed the townhome proposal's merits, the concerns of residents and the concerns of the Conservancy board. The view of the County is that the townhome proposal is a "down zoning" - it is a less intense use of the property than could be allowed under the current zoning. According to County Staff, the zoning would allow up to 18 units per acre whereas this development is less than 11 units per acre.

Commissioner Gannon said she would like to revise the conditions drafted by the developer, the board of the Greater Valley Brook Civic Association and the County Staff. The revision by Commissioner Gannon's office is below for your review. Please let me know if you have comments. If you prefer, you should always feel free to communicate them to Susan Rossi, Commissioner Gannon's office, or Commissioner Barnes-Sutton's office.

We are still working on potential improvements to the intersection of Orion and Lawrenceville Hwy and to the public use areas of the Little Creek Park, however the off-site improvements cannot be a part of the conditions for the zoning. I will provide updates as they are available.

Thank you, Erik

CZ-16-20889

Board of Commissioners 9/27/2016

Proposed Conditions

1. The subject property shall be developed for no more than 41 fee simple townhomes, in substantial compliance with the layout shown on the site plan titled “Lawrenceville Hwy & Orion Dr.”, prepared by Planners and Engineers Collaborative, dated August 22, 2016 and attached as Exhibit A; and in substantial compliance with Elevation Plans dated 8/102016 and attached as Exhibit B. Side elevations shall have windows or other architectural features to prevent blank walls.

2. The proposed development shall be consistent with the conceptual landscaping plan titled, “Tree Replacement Plan”, prepared by Planners and Engineers Collaborative, dated August 15, 2016, and attached as Exhibit C subject to approval by the County Arborist and submitted to the Planning and Sustainability Department on August 22, 2016.

3. No vehicular access shall be permitted from Lawrenceville Highway. Access from Orion Drive and Hollywood Road shall be limited to one curb cut subject per street subject to the Transportation Division of the Department of Public Works.

4. Building facades shall have four sided architectural finishes which shall consist of brick, stone, stucco, hardi-plank or man-made equivalents (such as EIFS, architectural split block) or combination of these finishes.

5. A 50-foot transitional buffer adjacent to single-family detached residential zoned property along the southeast property line shall be established by protecting the existing trees and providing additional landscaping to enhance the buffer as approved by the County arborist. Pedestrian paths are permitted in the buffer.

6. All exterior lighting shall be screened from Little Creek Horse farm and adjacent properties, or shielded to minimize glare and keep light inside the development.

7. The townhome units shall not exceed 35 feet in height as measured by DeKalb County Code and shall be a minimum of 1,800 square feet in unit size.

8. The developer shall design, construct, operate and maintain an underground storm water management plan that is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

9. A mandatory homeowners association shall be created and shall be governed by a declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions that shall include, among other components, a provision limiting the number of leased units to 10% of the total units. The homeowner association shall be responsible for the maintenance of the transitional buffer, open space within the property, street lighting, amenity areas, pedestrian paths and other common areas within the site.

10. Open space and common areas within the community shall be owned, maintained, and controlled by the mandatory association.  The common space areas shall be used primarily for recreational purposes; however, they may also include such features as gazebos, benches, amenity areas, walking trails and two dog walk stations with waste receptacles in common areas.

11. The park areas and pedestrian trails in the buffer shall connect to the sidewalks on Orion Dr. & Hollywood Road and will remain open to public use for the larger community.

12. The sidewalks along Lawrenceville Highway shall be a minimum width of ten feet. A minimum six-foot wide landscape strip shall be located between the edge of pavement or edge of curb of Lawrenceville Highway and the sidewalk. The landscape strip shall be planted with a low hedge to separate pedestrians and cyclist from Lawrenceville Highway subject to GDOT approval. Street trees planted at a minimum of 40 feet on center shall be planted on the southern side of the sidewalks, subject to approval by the County Arborist and the Georgia Department of Transportation. The developer shall take all necessary precautions to protect the two specimen oaks on the southwest corner of the property. These precautions include 6’ metal fencing to protect the root zones from vehicles and the storage of building materials during site development and construction. The sidewalks along Orion and Hollywood shall be a minimum of 5 feet in width. The developer shall dedicate the necessary right-of-way to accommodate these improvements.

13. Each townhome may have a fenced yard as permitted by DeKalb ordinance. The proposed development or future homeowners association may not construct a perimeter fence around the property to create a gated community. A gated drive or entrance along Orion shall not be permitted. A exit only gate on Hollywood may be permitted to reduce cut-through traffic

14.  Construction on the property will occur Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00p.m. and on Saturdays 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Loud music during construction will not be allowed.  There will be no construction on Sundays and holidays unless such activity arises from an emergency which places the neighboring or subject property at risk of harm or loss.

15. Construction traffic will have a right-in, left-out access to the property on Orion Drive.  The applicant will inform all construction traffic that they must access Orion Drive from Lawrenceville Highway and shall not travel southeast on Orion Drive into the residential area.

16. All land disturbing activity shall be carried out in accordance with the Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Act of 1975 and shall contain provisions for application of soil erosion and sedimentation control best measures and practices. In addition, the applicant must also comply with the DeKalb Tree Ordinance and all other best measures and practices required by County, state and federal laws.  The best measures and practices shall apply to all features of the site, including street and utility installations, storm water management facilities, drainage facilities and other temporary and permanent improvements.

17. The approval of this rezoning application by the Board of Commissioners has no bearing on other approvals by the Zoning Board of Appeals or other authority, whose decision should be based on the merits of the application before said authority.

18. Final lot layout subject to sketch plat approval in accordance with DeKalb County Ordinances, Chapter 27 (Zoning Code) & Chapter 14 (Land Development Code) before applying for a Land Disturbance Permit (LDP).

Community meeting -- North Decatur Rd./Church St. development [Sept 19]

The site, bound by Church St., N. Decatur Rd. and Milscott Dr.

Following feedback sessions with the community last July and August, SJ Collins will present final concepts of the development to take place at the corner of Church St. and North Decatur Rd. (former Naley dealership).

The 18-acre development will include restaurants, retail, greenspace and apartments. A "365 by Whole Foods" market anchors the development.

DeKalb Co. library now checking out... seeds!

"The DeKalb County Public Library has launched what it says is metro Atlanta’s first-of-its-kind seed library.” Read all about it at the AJC: http://www.ajc.com/news/lifestyles/check-out-decatur-library-you-never-have-return-it/nsQgh/

To go directly to the library's "DeKalb Invests in Growing Gardens (DIGGS) Seed Library", visit http://dekalblibrary.org/services/digg-seed-library

Community meeting -- North Decatur Rd./Church St. development [Aug 16]

The site, bound by Church St., N. Decatur Rd. and Milscott Dr.

Following a feedback session with the community last July, SJ Collins will present draft concepts of the development to take place at the corner of Church St. and North Decatur Rd. (former Naley dealership).

The 18-acre development will include restaurants, retail, greenspace and apartments. A "365 by Whole Foods" market anchors the development.

Lawrenceville Hwy. Corridor: Land Use/Comprehensive Plan [Aug 4]

via Commissioner Rader... 

Community input on SJ Collins / Whole Foods 365 development [July 21]

The following e-mail is being sent on behalf of Julie Sellers:

Community Members, Thank you for attending the Community meeting regarding the North Decatur Square project which includes the 365 Whole Foods. In an effort to maximize the public use of the open space area at the project, the developer, SJ Collins retained the Sizemore Group to host and facilitate public engagement regarding the design of these spaces. We are hosting a design focused conversation and welcome your attendance on Thursday, July 21st 7:00-8:30 at North Decatur United Methodist Church. We hope you will be able to join us for this conversation and encourage others to attend. If at any time during our application process you have questions about the project or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

"The Comet Pub and Lanes" opening at Suburban Plaza [July 15]

Eater reports that The Comet Pub and Lanes opens today. See the details at http://atlanta.eater.com/2016/7/14/12191634/comet-pub-lanes-decatur-hours [includes the menu]

The Comet is a much-anticipated bowling alley featuring not-your-average bowling alley food and beer. Created by the owners of Twain's Brewpub and Billiards in downtown Decatur, The Comet fills in the void left when Suburban Lanes left when Suburban Plaza entered its renovation a couple years ago.

Clifton Road delays [July 18-22]

via Emory University...

This month, Emory is constructing and installing the frame for a new two-story pedestrian bridge over Clifton Road.  The new bridge will connect Emory University Hospital with the hospital bed tower currently under construction across the street, and it will eventually replace the existing bridge.   

Related to the bridge construction, expect significant delays next week (Monday, July 18 - Friday, July 22) with single lane traffic in either direction on Clifton Road between Eagle Row/Haygood Drive and North Decatur Road.  

• If possible avoid Clifton Road and use alternate routes. 
• Pedestrian access and emergency access will remain open. 
• Bus service will continue; bus stop and route changes are at http://emory.transloc.com/.

Note that this work is weather dependent and subject to change; if there are changes, Emory will provide updates.   Thank you for your patience as these improvements are made on Clifton Road, and visit www.cliftonstreetscape.com for updates.

 

Zoning change request for 1889 Lawrenceville Highway [July 6]

via Google Map

We have been asked to share this announcement and site plan for a rezoning application for 1889 Lawrenceville Highway, at the corner of Orion and Lawrenceville Hwy. The meeting is scheduled for July 6; see below for meeting details.


This notice is for the Pre-Submittal Community Meeting, which developers are required to hold before they submit any plans to DeKalb County.

Click to enlarge.

Zoning change request for 3352 North Druid Hills Road [June 30]

via Google Map

We have been asked to share this announcement for a rezoning application for 3352 North Druid Hills Road (where Grand Slam Golf and Baseball is currently located). The meeting is scheduled for June 30. See below for meeting details.

This notice is for the Pre-Submittal Community Meeting, which developers are required to hold before they submit any plans to DeKalb County.