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A p r i l 2 2 , 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 officials debate measure to limit height of yard fences By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com
LAUREN SCHWARTZ/SPECIAL
About 40 people descended on McGrady’s house to perform yard work, powerwash the house, plant flowers and a dogwood tree in the front of the yard. The event was organized by friends Christian Matulich and Sean Doughtie.
Friends, family honor hero who died saving others By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. – Dunwoody resident Kim McGrady, who died April 8 while saving swimmers caught in a riptide at a Miramar, Fla. beach, was described as “an amazing son, father and husband” at a memorial service last week. More than 300 people attended the April 14 service, held at Perimeter Church Outdoor Chapel in Johns Creek. McGrady, who was a field operations manager at Chick-fil-A, saved three people before succumbing to the riptide. Another man, Layne Gravois, of Gray, La., 21, also died in the incident. Friends and members of McGrady’s family, including his daughter Kaleigh,
son Colton, and wife Leigh Anne, spoke at the service, emphasizing McGrady’s selflessness, faith and dedication to his friends and family. Friend Bruce Cameron said he met McGrady in 1989 when Cameron was a “naïve” Beta Theta Pi pledge at Auburn University. “I wasn’t prepared for the pledge process, especially the dreaded Hell Week,” Cameron said. “But as much as the (upperclassmen) tried to break us down, I always had a glimmer of hope that it would be okay. There was this one guy in the back of the room, with this little sideways grin on his face, as if to say, ‘Don’t take this too seriously. It’s going to be okay.’”
See HERO, Page 9
DUNWOODY, Ga. – Dunwoody City Council members had mixed reactions at their April 12 meeting discussing a text amendment to limit fence and wall heights to 6 feet in single-family residential areas. A memo submitted to the council from Dunwoody Planning and Zoning Manager Paul Leonhardt said that the 6-foot limit would only impact interior side and rear yards. Fences in front yards and side street yards would be limited to 4 feet in height “or 6 feet in specific situations.” The memo did not spell out out what specific situations would allow for a 6-foot fence. The memo said that city staff recommended approval of the text amendment, but added that the Dunwoody Planning Commission voted 7-0 against it at its March 9 meeting. “(The) main reasons (for the commission’s vote) are a desire not to take away fencing options and a low number of complaints about fence height,” the memo said. “Commissioners discussed options to take height into consideration, however, no option that would be easy to administer was found.” The memo indicated that Councilwoman Pam Tallmadge had requested staff to research and draft the text amendment. It listed limitations that are in place in neighboring
municipalities. Alpharetta, Atlanta and Doraville have 6-foot maximum heights, while Brookhaven, Chamblee, Decatur, Roswell and Sandy Springs have 8-foot maximums. “I regret voting for the 8-foot fence (stipulation) several years ago,” Tallmadge said. “You don’t know (how invasive it is) unless it happens to you.” Council members Jim Riticher, John Heneghan and Tom Lambert expressed reluctance to make the change. “I see arguments on both sides of the issue,” Lambert said, a sentiment Heneghan and Riticher echoed. One resident spoke in favor of limiting fence heights during a public hearing about the proposed amendment. No action was taken on the matter. In other action, the council: Accepted a donation of five trees from the Dunwoody Womens Club to commemorate the organization’s 50th anniversary. Discussed, without taking action, several designs for a stretch of intersection along Mount Vernon Road between Corners Drive and Mount Vernon Place. Issued a proclamation honoring the Dunwoody Sustainability Committee’s Hero of the Year, Pattie Baker, in recognition of her efforts to advocate for alternative forms of transportation
See FENCES, Page 10