DeKalb schools to begin reopening classrooms ► PAGE 2
M a r c h 4 , 2 0 2 1 | T h e C r i e r. n e t | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | S e r v i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y s i n c e 1 9 7 6
City Council defers zoning vote on Perimeter development project By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com
CATHY COBBS/CRIER
Dunwoody native Kevin Smith, a pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles organization, tosses the first pitch of the season to Nate Cartwright Feb. 22 at Dunwoody Senior baseball fields.
Senior Baseball organization draws local pro for first pitch By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. – Dunwoody Senior Baseball celebrated its opening day on Feb. 20 with the first pitch tossed out by local resident and Major League prospect Kevin Smith. Smith is soon to report to the AA Baltimore Orioles’ complex in Bowie, Md. He was drafted by the New York Mets in 2018, and spent most of the season playing in Brooklyn, N.Y., in the A League before moving up to High-A in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The lefty, who was traded to the Orioles in 2019, is listed as a No. 2 prospect by Oriole scouts. Smith, 23, whose uniform number
was 84 during his middle and high school years, played at Dunwoody High School and on several travel teams before spending three years as a starting pitcher for the University of Georgia. His fastball has been clocked at 92 miles per hour. He also has an 82-mile-per-hour slider and an 80-mile-per-hour changeup. His career ERA hovers around 3.3. Smith said it was bittersweet to return to his old stomping grounds. “It’s awesome to see the league grow this much,” Smith said after lobbing a pitch to middle school Dunwoody Red catcher Nate Cartwright. “I do feel like I’m getting pretty old though.”
See BASEBALL, Page 2
ROBINBLASS BLASS ROBIN
DUNWOODY, Ga. – After another lengthy discussion, the Dunwoody City Council deferred action on second reading several ordinances relating to a proposed 14-story mixed-use development in Perimeter Center. At its Jan. 11 meeting, the council heard details of the complex, which would sit on nearly 3 acres at 84 Perimeter Center East and would include 40,000 square feet of retail, a parking garage and up to 220 age-restricted housing units. Previous plans called for a hotel on the site. The proposal would require a rezoning from C-1 Conditional (commercial) to PC-2 (Perimeter Center District). In addition, there are 20 other conditions that would have to be addressed, including elimination of the established 15-foot setback and reduction of the impervious coverage of the land. At the Feb. 22 meeting, council members heard changes to the plan that included reducing the impervious surface coverage from 85 percent to 78 percent, and several other concessions to address the concerns expressed at the earlier meeting, including moving the pool from the front of the property to the roof. However, several council members said they were still concerned about elements of the plan, and they questioned whether there is a market for over-55 rental property. “I remain underwhelmed by this project,” Councilman Tom Lambert said. “At the risk of sounding arrogant, I think
Top10 10Atlanta AtlantaBoard BoardofofRealtors RealtorsTop TopProducers Producers Top 404-403-6561CC| |770-394-2131 770-394-2131OO 404-403-6561 RobinBlass.com RobinBlass.com
that the City of Dunwoody deserves better. Without the age restriction, I wouldn’t vote to approve this project.” Developer John DiGiovanni argued that the intent of the project is to “build a Four Seasons/Ritz Carlton-type facility that you and I would like to live in.” But council members maintained their doubts that the project would be attractive for residents who live in Dunwoody, but who want to opt for renting rather than ownership. Last week, the Dunwoody Development Authority voted 4-2 to begin the process that would allow for a 50-percent, 10-year tax abatement for the property. Members at that meeting also questioned whether the project was a good fit for Dunwoody. The City Council deferred the passage of the various ordinances in order to gather more information about the legality of age-restricted housing. In other action at the Feb. 22 meeting, the council listened to District 1 School Board Representative Anna Hill, who discussed her personal preference for a return to face-to-face learning in DeKalb schools. But she emphasized that the decision lies with Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris. Since that meeting, the school system announced a staggered return to in-person learning starting Mar. 9. The council also: • Discussed speed limits within the city. • Listened to a report about upcoming Georgia Department of Transportation I-285 improvements slated to start in 2024. • Heard from Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton that sidewalk improvements on Tilly Mill Road are continuing.