Atlanta Gas Light warns of scam (Marietta and Decatur areas)

http://www.atlantagaslight.com/Universal/AboutUs/PressRoom/2013/20130913.aspx

ATLANTA – Sept. 13, 2013 – Atlanta Gas Light is warning customers of a scam, currently occurring in the Marietta and Decatur area, in which a person is reportedly impersonating utility employees in an attempt to obtain customers’ account and personal information. 

This week, Atlanta Gas Light began receiving reports from several customers who said that a man claiming to be a company employee knocked on their doors and stated he could lower their natural gas costs if they showed him their gas bills. According to the customers, the impersonator, described as a male between 25 and 30 years of age, was persistent and got irritated when customers refused the request. 

Atlanta Gas Light is working with local authorities as they continue to investigate these incidents. The company also is warning residents to take the necessary precautions to ensure their personal safety and protect their identity. 

Below are recommended guidelines:

• Atlanta Gas Light will never dispatch a representative to your residence to view your natural gas bill.
• Whenever a field service representative or contractor is conducting business on behalf of Atlanta Gas Light, they will provide official company identification.
• If you any have concerns about someone claiming to be a utility representative, please contact our Customer Care Center at 1-800-427-5463 to confirm that an Atlanta Gas Light representative has been scheduled to perform work at your premises.
• Customers who believe they are a victim of this type of scam should contact their local police departments.  
• For more information, visit atlantagaslight.com

Fuqua requests deferral on Scott Blvd. Baptist Church redevelopment

Latest Scott Blvd. Baptist Church plan, presented on September 10, 2013.
 Click to enlarge or view full-size image here.
For a larger view of the site calculation text on the right, go here.

MANA Zoning Chair Theresa Same attended the September 10, 2013 Planning Commission meeting to continue tracking the redevelopment of the Scott Blvd. Baptist Church (SBBC) property. Fuqua Development presented a new site plan (that they had not shared with area neighbors prior to the meeting) and requested a deferral on their plan to redevelop the Scott Blvd. Baptist Church site. The Planning Commission recommended a full-cycle deferral. Full-cycle referral means that Fuqua's updated proposal will be reviewed again by the Community Council, the Planning Commission and finally the Board of Commissioners. During this period, Fuqua is supposed to discuss its plans with the community.

This latest plan reduces the number of residential units to 18 and building height to three stories (vs. 200+ units and five-story height in previous proposals) and introduces a new road connecting the SBBC site to Blackmon Drive. We are obviously concerned about the impact this road would have on the quality of life of Blackmon Drive residents.

The image below compares plans that Fuqua has released, which we are calling Plans 1, 2 and 3. Note that there was another plan (let's call it "2.1"), not depicted here, that was presented by Fuqua's representative at the August 20, 2013 Community Council. That site plan
- no longer included a 5-story apartment building,
- placed the 35,000 sq. ft. anchor tenant on the existing church property and
- left the houses on Barton Way intact (though Fuqua was still asking to include them in their land use plan change for future redevelopment).

Plans 1, 2 3 as presented in various planning meeting.  The newly proposed road connecting to Blackmon Drive, presented on Sept. 10, 2013, is highlighted in light yellow. Click image to enlarge.

NOTE: Plan 1 caption updated 9/12/2013

For all posts relating to the redevelopment of the Scott Blvd. Baptist Church, click here

Addendum: For context on the developer behind this project, see Creative Loafing (Sept. 12, 2013):  Jeff Fuqua: Atlanta's Most Controversial Developer 

UPDATE: on September 24, 2013, the Board of Commissioners voted in favor of a full cycle deferral.

Woodridge Road Closure on Sept. 16 and on -- Atlanta Gas Light

from Atlanta Gas Light:

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as Atlanta Gas Light has installed the Eastside Pipeline through the Medlock Area community. We recognize that this project has created inconveniences for residents in the area of work and for others around the neighborhood. 

We wanted to update you on construction activities around Woodridge Road that will involve a road closure late later this week. The contractor’s traffic plan is attached so neighbors can see the exact location of the closure and the planned detour around it. Signage will be posted in the neighborhood to alert pedestrians and motorists of the road closure. 

Atlanta Gas Light’s independent contractor Latex Construction is preparing to “pull back” approximately 1,100 feet of pipe in the area of our easement that crosses Woodridge Drive (between Alberson Court and Larry Lane) to complete the installation to Lawrenceville Highway. Residents may have noticed the pipe that was strung out in the easement north of Woodridge Drive. 

The pull back is scheduled to begin September 16 and may last up to 48 hours. It is a continuous process, and to protect the integrity of the pipe it cannot be stopped once it has started. During this time, there will be a higher level of construction noise and constant activity, including generators, portable lights, and other equipment.  If necessary, this work can continue around the clock until the pull back is complete. The affected areas will be restored once all of the equipment has been removed. 

Should there be any changes to the schedule because of weather or other factors, Atlanta Gas Light will update residents as soon as possible. If you have additional questions, please contact us at (404) 584-3130 or eastsidepipeline@aglresources.com. 

Again we thank you for your continued patience during construction and your willingness to work with us as we improve the system.

Atlanta Gas Light

GA Naturalist Rally at Stone Mountain & Native Plant Sale [Sept 14]

The Georgia Naturalist Rally is coming to Stone Mountain!

GA Naturalist Rally wins cutest logo ever!

"Whether you are an seasoned naturalist or someone new to nature, this day-long event offers something for any lover of the outdoors.  Throughout the day, we are providing a variety of walks, hikes, and other activities throughout the park’s natural district.  Experts will lead you through forests, fields, lakes and , of course, on the mountain while focusing on a variety of natural topics.  Activities for children (with their parents) are also a part of the fun.  

$12 registration covers lunch, your choice of sessions, and parking."

Sign up for the rally via https://www.eventbrite.com/event/6580892627 and view the event schedule here.

As to rally topics, expect information on beekeeping, birds and wildlife, and gardening with native plants. The GA Native Plant Society will be there too, holding a plant sale 9am - 1pm.

City of Briarcliff Initiative -- Information Meeting [Sept 12]

For additional information on the proposed City of Briarcliff, visit the maps and documents page.

See other posts on MANA's website  on the City of Briarcliff and cityhood.

Missing cat, Willivee Rd. [Sept 6]

This hansome red and white male cat snuck out today and is missing from Willivee Drive near Hunting Valley Place. If you have any information, please contact his family at 770-289-3120.

North Decatur Rd. Safety Audit: notes from Sept. 5 meeting

Road Safety Audit focus: North Decatur Road (purple) and Clifton Road (blue). Orange bursts highlight problematic intersections (Clairmont, Wendan, Scott/Medlock). Click to enlarge.

For those who could not make this afternoon's meeting, the September 26 meeting will also cover the audit's recommendations. The audit is an incremental process where new comments and concerns are added to the study as more community members chime in. The September 26 meeting will also include comments from representatives from involved municipalities (DeKalb Co., City of Decatur).

Many thanks to Leah Ingve (Emory School of Public Health) and Rebecca Serna (Atlanta Bicycle Coalition) for leading this audit and today's presentation. The meeting was well attended and there is great energy to work together and start the process that will improve safety and quality of life in this high-traffic corridor.

A few highlights from the meeting:

Previous traffic counts estimated ~19K cars/day for the North Decatur Rd. area between the Scott Blvd and Clairmont intersections. The presenters update these counts as follows:
~17K at Suburban Plaza (North Decatur Rd / Scott Blvd. / Medlock intersection)
~23K at Wendan and North Decatur Rd
~16K at Emory Village

The unexpectedly high count at Wendan (which also shows highest travel speeds) may make a road diet less effective. The emphasis on improving traffic flow relates to lowering risk at intersections (where most accidents happen) and making roads safer so that cyclists use the road rather than take to the sidewalk, where their presence increases pedestrian accidents.

Unsurprisingly, the Medlock/Scott/North Decatur Rd intersection was perceived to "not work on foot or bike." At the very least, there is a need to complete striping on crossroads, improve pedestrian signals, and make sure the light timing is long enough to allow a pedestrian or cyclist to cross. Ramps are also needed. The intersection requires further study. As we have heard many times, this is the busiest intersection in the County. GDOT does not want to implement changes that interfere with vehicular flow, and that is the very thing that is necessary to ensure safe passage for pedestrians  and cyclists.

The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition will post an updated version of the slides used in today's presentation, which will include details on recommendations by area (Clifton Rd., North Decatur Rd at Wendan, Clairmont and Scott Blvd.).