Dunwoody’s long history of post offices, 1881-2020 ► PAGE 5
A u g u s t 2 0 , 2 0 2 0 | 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 reviews zoning changes to vitalize Dunwoody Village By CATHY COBBS newsroom@northfulton.com
JEFFREY ALBERTSON/CRIER
Vendors greet visitors to the weekly Dunwoody Farmers Market Aug. 8 at Brook Run Park. The market, which runs Saturday mornings through October, has been adjusted to provide more space for social distancing.
Farmers market, local vendors adjust to pandemic restrictions By JEFFREY ALBERTSON newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — In an economy turned soft, the Dunwoody Farmers Market has proven vital for some of the area’s small businesses. For the past three years, the open-air market has offered a variety of local produce, crafts, coffee and artisanal foods. This year’s market, which runs Saturdays through October from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Brook Run Park has added popsicles and live music. The year continues to pose unique challenges, increasing the reliance on online sales while public gatherings are limited. The setup is different than in prior years. Vendor tents are spaced about 20 feet apart to promote social distancing and commerce while respecting personal space. Food samples, an enticing offer to a new customer, are off limits. Instead,
any offering must be given in a sealed package. Customers can purchase goods in advance and pick them up on-site. About 20 percent of the vendors opted out of participating this year. Reduced participation has limited the number of prepared food offerings. Others decided to participate less frequently during the month. A recent Saturday saw about 13 vendors offering items to crowds that sometimes included as many as 40 people. Some detoured off the main walking trail parallel to the market lawn. Market Manager Kirsten Simmons said vendors are getting by, but they have to adapt to the new reality for the time being. She said the farmers market is “doing everything we can to keep safe.” She added that foot traffic remains good. Deb Rinik, owner of deb-Bee’s honey,
See MARKET, Page 8
DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody City Council listened to a proposal and public input regarding a myriad of zoning regulations for the Dunwoody Village District that will create a sense of “downtown” for the area. At the Aug. 10 meeting of the council, Caleb Racicot, a planner with TSW Design, presented an overview of the proposed changes, which includes a centralized district that would create a “real heart for the city of Dunwoody.” “The first step we did with working with the community was making sure that the master plan was still relevant, which it certainly was,” Racicot said. “We have had a lot of public outreach, including a community forum that more than 200 people attended.” The proposed regulations would require new developments to upgrade streetscapes to include 8- to 12-foot sidewalks, install street lights and benches, and place most utilities underground. In addition, the existing overlay would be replaced by new Dunwoody Village districts that would encompass commercial, residential, office, residential zones, and would put in place rules regarding building types and heights and construction materials. The council had several questions about the proposal, including right-of-way regulations, setbacks around the village and the impact the new zoning regulations would have on Dunwoody United Methodist Church, the only religious property encompassed in the district.
The scope of the project incorporates the passage of several different ordinances, including the new regulations, an updated master plan, and the rezoning of several properties to reflect the different uses within the district. There was no action taken on the plan. The items will be on the August 24 agenda for a second hearing. The council also heard from Perimeter CID representative Ann Hanlon about a proposed extension to the Ashford Dunwoody eastbound on-ramp. Hanlon reported that funding had been obtained for the project’s design and construction, which is projected to cost about $2 million and begin in December 2021. The council unanimously approved Hanlon’s request for the city to sponsor the project, a move that will entitle the CID for state funds. Mayor Lynn Deutsch also swore in the newest member of the Dunwoody Police Department, Will Smith, who recently graduated from Fulton County’s police training program. In other action, the council: • Approved $55,250 for the removal of a tree on Spalding Drive. • Heard from finance director Linda Nabers that the recent pandemic has resulted in about $1 reduction in expenditures that had been allocated in the 2020 budget. • Heard an update from city auditor William Mulcahy regarding the quarterly audit, which indicated that “everything is as according to charter.” • Heard public comments regarding temporary signs within the city and the cancellation of recycling and hazardous waste disposal events because of COVID-19.
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