02-02-18 Brookhaven Reporter

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 • VOL. 10 — NO. 3

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► Cities asked to join regional affordable housing policy PAGE 4 ► 35-day zoning, building moratorium issued PAGE 22

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Density questioned in new Overlay District rewrite

Watery fun for a dad and his son

BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net

A Sunday shower didn’t stop Damon Gabriel and son Theodore, 2, from enjoying playtime in Ashford Park on Jan. 28. “Theo and I love this park and playing in the rain,” said Damon.

Amazon made clear what corporate relocations of NCR, State Farm and others have tipped off to state leaders: The recruitment and retention of high wage corporate employers will follow the tracks of transit. Those counties and municipalities without transit need not apply. CHARLIE HARPER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF POLICYBEST

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The rewrite of the controversial Brookhaven-Peachtree Overlay District was intended to clear up confusion for developers and calm fears for homeowners living in the area near the Brookhaven/ Oglethorpe MARTA Station. But the City Council member representing those in the area is concerned the new law will allow for much higher density and removes residents’ power to change redevelopments. City officials, however, say the rewrite clarifies density issues and, for the first time, gives them a way to enforce density restrictions. The City Council voted 3-1 at its Jan. 23 meeting to approve the Overlay rewrite, a process that began in June and included public meetings up until a few days before the vote. The original overlay was approved by DeKalb County in 2007. See DENSITY on page 22

Venues challenge city’s new $100K liquor license fees BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net

Four local establishments are appealing the city’s decision to deny renewing their alcohol licenses after an ordinance approved late last year raised liquor license fees from approximately $5,000 to $100,000. Rush Lounge, Medusa Restaurant & Lounge, XS Ultra Lounge and Josephine Lounge, all located on Buford Highway, were told in January their liquor licenses would not be renewed for 2018. The reason? Under the revised alcohol See VENUES on page 13

2 | Community

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City issues 35-day zoning, building moratorium BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net The City Council approved a 35-day citywide moratorium on all zoning cases, land disturbance permits and building permits at its Jan. 23 meeting. City officials would only say it was doing so due to a “technicality” in the zoning code to be fixed by next month. City spokesperson Burke Brennan said in a Jan. 25 statement that “a technical flaw in Brookhaven’s zoning code recently came to light during pending litigation.” “The city attorney’s office is assessing opDYANA BAGBY tions and the city’s potential exposure. It is A sign at Brookhaven City Hall informs anticipated a solution will be developed well visitors of the zoning and development in advance of the next Planning Commission moratorium slated to last until Feb. 27. meeting,” Brennan said. City Attorney Chris Balch told the council a moratorium was needed “to fix a technicality.” There was no further discussion by the council. In an interview, Balch declined to explain further the reason for the moratorium. “I can’t go further without breaching attorney-client privilege,” he said. “I can say it is related to litigation.” The city’s Planning Commission will be taking up the issue at its Feb. 7 meeting. The moratorium is slated to be lifted at the Feb. 27 City Council meeting. In a press release, Councilmember Bates Mattison said the city recently became aware of a gap in the city’s code that occurred five years ago at the time of incorporation “which could adversely affect current Brookhaven property owners. “We have to have a temporary moratorium to make a technical fix to protect existing residents and businesses,” he said. In an interview, Mattison said it was his understanding the moratorium did not affect any zoning cases or permits that were filed before Jan. 23. He also said he would like to look at options on how to compensate developer expenses caused by the moratorium. At Mayor John Ernst’s Jan. 24 town hall meeting, a woman who recently purchased property in the city asked why there was a moratorium because she is planning to build on her land. Ernst was vague and said that while going over current litigation the city “found a flaw in our zoning code … that would open the floodgates for lots of different things.” The “flaw” was found within the past three weeks, he said, and it was important enough to call for a moratorium “to protect neighborhoods.” City Manager Christian Sigman at the town hall said resources will be made available to quickly process any backlog of zoning cases and permits at the end of the four weeks.

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Atlanta councilmember asks cities to join regional affordable housing policy BY JOHN RUCH

were positive, though with the cautions that the city’s own policy is still in the works, partly through Mayor Rusty Paul’s forthcoming affordable housing task force. In Dunwoody, Community Development Director Richard McLeod intended to meet with Dickens recently for a preliminary chat, according to city spokesperson Bob Mullen. That meeting was delayed by the winter weather.

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Fresh from a victory in requiring affordable housing along the BeltLine, Atlanta City Councilmember Andre Dickens is trying to form a multi-city coalition to create a regional — even statewide — housing affordability strategy. Dickens — who holds one of the council’s citywide at-large Dickens said he has reached out to leaders of several seats — emphasized that his policy vision is not just low-income metro Atlanta cities — including Dunwoody and Sandy housing. Springs — who he had heard are also working on “hous“It’s not just affordable housing, because some of those coming affordability and housing diversity.” And he’s looking munities are going to say, ‘We don’t want no stinking affordable even farther afield: “We reached out as far as Augusta, too,” housing,’” Dickens said. “This is about making sure you have diFILE he said. Atlanta City Councilmember verse housing options for your diverse workforce.” “I’m interested in working with other cities in the metAndre Dickens. He noted that corporate executives and attorneys generally ropolitan area to share best practices in legislation and admake more than teachers and firefighters, “and all those people ministration of policies that aid in this effort,” Dickens are great people.” He described his policy focus as “not the stigma” of people “who wrote in a Dec. 7 email to some of those cities. “My hope is that this will assist in don’t get up and go to work each day,” but rather addressing “workforce” housing building a coalition that allows us to lobby the state of Georgia to support legislaand the broader economic development implications. tion that makes this a priority at the state level as well.” “If you don’t have a city that has an adequate plan for your workforce to live in, “The short answer is, nothing really has happened yet,” Dickens said in an interyou’re going to have a lot of [commuter] traffic … You’re going to have a lot of chalview. But, he said, he has received some early positive responses from several cities lenges attracting people to work because of the commute to your city,” Dickens said. and from the Atlanta Regional Commission, which he hopes will help coordinate “And you’re going to have displacement.” the multi-city effort. Dickens and many other collaborators spent three years working on an afford“ARC will be supporting Andre’s efforts,” confirmed ARC spokesperson Paul Donable housing strategy around the BeltLine trail, park and transit system that is besky, adding that will “include some staff time and likely some data analysis.” ing built in a ring around Atlanta. Several city housing affordability policies and inThe idea is to share information and develop what Dickens’ email calls “unity centives spun out of that effort. The work culminated last fall with the Atlanta City and some uniformity” in regional housing affordability policy. Council’s passage of a mandatory inclusionary zoning policy for multifamily housIn Sandy Springs, initial reactions from top planning official Jim Tolbert and ing built within a half-mile of the BeltLine. The policy requires a certain amount of other staffers in internal emails obtained through an Open Records Act request units be priced at rates affordable to middle- or moderate-income households.

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Under the policy, developers can price 15 percent of units as affordable to households making 80 percent of the area median income; or price 10 percent of the units at 60 percent of AMI; or pay a variable fee into a city fund instead of creating any affordable units. Atlanta is reportedly the first city in Georgia to adopt an inclusionary zoning policy for private developments, and Dickens calls it a “landmark piece of legislation.” It’s also the starting point of his regional effort. The subject line of his Dec. 7 outreach email was, “Inclusionary Zoning Coalition Building.” That’s a familiar term in Sandy Springs, where the city briefly included what would have been a landmark inclusionary zoning policy in a draft of its new zoning code early last year before discarding it. But it may not be in other cities, and definitions could vary widely. Dickens said his regional collaboration idea has two main purposes. “Number one, just a mechanism for sharing,” he said, noting that the BeltLine effort produced three years’ worth of research, both local and nationwide. He wants to share that data with other cities, “so no one in our region has to start from scratch.” The other purpose is to develop “some consistency in policies.” “We are one region,” even if cities are “in friendly competition,” Dickens said. “You don’t want to do something in one town that hurts another town.” That could also lessen developers’ ability to play cities off each other, he said: “So if the policies resemble each other, we can eliminate some of this, ‘Well, if you tell me how to do [a development], I’ll just do it up the street.’” Dickens said he has asked the ARC — a metro Atlanta regional planning coordination organization — to provide “a policy person who may be interested in being the glue that keeps people together” and who could serve as a policy “evaluator.” Dickens could not immediately provide a complete list of the cities he has contacted, but the partial list also includes Decatur, Doraville, Marietta and Norcross. One local government Dickens said he believes he did not contact is Brookhaven, because he believed the five-year-old city is so new. He said he was unaware that Brookhaven recently formed and received recommendations from its own affordable housing task force. Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst recently convened a similar multi-city, regional planning gathering about mass transit along the top-end Perimeter. That meeting spun out of the recently formed Peachtree Gateway Partnership, a four-city planning group, advised by the ARC, which includes Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Chamblee and Doraville.

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6 | Education

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Luke Cocks

Holy Spirit Preparatory School, senior Editor’s note: Through our “Standout Student” series, Reporter Newspapers showcases some of the outstanding students at our local schools. To recommend a “Standout Student” for our series, please email editor@ReporterNewspapers.net with information about the student and why you think he or she should be featured.

and his winning piece features qualities of isolation and brokenness. As Luke has grown and developed his photography skills, his interest in these environments has been constant, for they were what drew him into this hobby originally. “It’s like the world stops, and I’m in Two years ago, Luke and his friends the zone,” Luke Cocks said. were exploring an abandoned train Luke, a senior at Holy Spirit Preparatoyard, and with one artistic picture on his ry, recently was named a state winner in phone, he was hooked, he said. the All-State Art Symposium for his phoHis family vacations and thirst for adtography. The competition is noted for its venture also nourished his passion for selectiveness and is considered the bigphotography as he explored countries gest interscholastic art competition in the such as Ireland, Mexico and South Africa. state, according to a press release from the His portfolio is made up of a variety school. Luke is only the second student at of animals, citizens of the countries and the school to win at the state level, accordlandscapes of the outdoors. Luke values ing to Holy Spirit. photography above all other forms of art Luke’s photography focuses on abanbecause it allows him to capture the beaudoned, urban-decaying environment, ty around him and take advantage of his adventures, he said. He focuses on isolated destinations and figures for his conceptual work, and he concentrates on South Africa for documentary work. SPECIAL His eye for Luke takes a picture of a mountain range in South Africa. the beauty

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FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Luke Cock’s award-winning photograph from his ‘Lone Figures’ series.

in decaying environments and loneliness caught the attention of the judges in the All-State Symposium. His winning piece in the competition came from his “Lone Figures” series. The shot was taken here in Atlanta, and “it explores the concept of isolation and a sense of loneliness,” Luke said. His fascination with these environments is coated with bits of philosophy as he views “urban decay as the epitome of a plan gone wrong,” similar to how life is an unpredictable adventure. “As teenagers, we are still exploring who we are to become in this big, unknown and sometimes lost world. We, as teenagers, are just starting to figure out that life is about how you deal with the unexpected,” he said. SPECIAL Luke Cocks. He’s supported by his family, who also have chosen artistic careers. Luke’s father is the creative director of his own production and design company, and his mother heads a jewelry design company. Other figures in his life, such as his art teacher, Rockie Rondeau, are supportive of Luke’s talents with photography. Rondeau is continuously inspired by his work, she said. “His ‘Lone Figures’ series really encapsulates what it is like to be ‘coming of age,’ to be both on the cusp of finding out who you are, but also very lost and scared,” Rondeau said. “When I look at this series, it brings me back to my late teens and early 20s when I too was just starting to figure

out who I was in the world. That’s a universal experience and I think Luke’s series really explores that concept in a unique way.” Luke has also been published in the Photographer’s Forum Magazine and in Holy Spirit’s Art and Literary Magazine.

What’s Next?

Luke plans to go to college and fo-

SPECIAL

cus on photography. His top choice is Savannah College of Art and Design. He has also applied to Columbia College Chicago and to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. This article was written and reporter by Kaitlyn Garrett, a sophomore at The Lovett School.

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8 | Arts & Entertainment

Facebook.com/TheReporterNewspapers ■ twitter.com/Reporter_News the February program of the Dunwoody Fine Art Association, which this month features local oil painter Nancy Francke. Meeting begins with refreshments and social time. Free. Spruill Arts Center, Room 4, 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. dunwoodyfineart.org.

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•

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PERFORMANCES “THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR” Friday, Feb. 9 through Sunday, Feb. 18

Act3 Productions presents “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” a comedy set in the 1950s that channels such iconic sitcoms as “I Love Lucy.” Two women have been receiving love letters and their husbands are determined to find out what’s going on. 6285-R Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. $15-$23. Tickets: act3productions.org or 770-241-1905.

ATLANTA WOMEN’S CHORUS Saturday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m.

Hear selections from the upcoming milestone concert of the Atlanta Women’s Chorus in a preview event at Covenant Presbyterian Church. The full concert, “Rewind: The First Five Years,” follows in two performances on Feb. 17 at

H I GH

•

DUNWOODY

•

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Druid Hills Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Preview concert is free; offering will be taken to support ongoing efforts and the choir’s upcoming tour across Georgia with the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus. Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2461 Peachtree Road N.E., Buckhead. Info and tickets for Feb. 17 concerts: voicesofnote.org.

“YOU’RE FUNNY, BUT YOU DON’T LOOK JEWISH” Saturday, Feb. 10, 7 and 9 p.m.

Italian-American, African-American, Vietnamese-American and Indian-American Jewish stand-up comedians Mike Capozzola, Gina Gold, Joe Nguyen and Samson Koletkar share the stage and their own experiences about being ‘undercover’ members of the tribe at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. $18 members, $24 community. MJCCA-Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets: atlantajcc.org/boxoffice.

POETRY OUT LOUD METRO ATLANTA REGIONAL COMPETITION Sunday, Feb. 18, 1 to 3 p.m.

Poetry Out Loud, a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance of the written word, holds its regional competition. The metro Atlanta winner will compete in the State Finals Competition at the Atlanta History Center on March 11. Free. Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Buckhead. Info: atlantahistorycenter.com.

VISUAL ARTS “THE FINNISH ILLUSION” The Spruill Gallery hosts an opening reception for “The Finnish Illusion,” a mixed-media exhibition of NordicAmerican hybrid art that explores feminine imagery and questions human nature. Exhibit runs through April 28. Free. 4681 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Info: spruillarts.org.

DADDY DAUGHTER VALENTINE’S DANCE

Saturday, Feb. 10, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Enjoy free admission and special programs on the second Sunday of each month.

The Brookhaven Parks & Recreation Department hosts a dance for fathers and daughters ages 5 to 15, including dinner, giveaways and keepsakes. A DJ will play the latest songs and take special requests. Registration requested by Feb. 5. $25 per family. Lynwood Community Center, 3360 Osborne Road, Brookhaven. Info: 404-637-0542.

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FEB. 11 • mAR. 11 Designed for little kids, big kids, and the whole family, Second Sundays are for everyone. Visit us each month and experience new interactive, innovative family activities inspired by our collections and ever-changing exhibitions. Second Sundays are sponsored by the Lettie Pate Evans Foundation.

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta criminal defense trial attorney Jason B. Sheffield discusses his novel, “Son of a Bitch,” in Heritage Sandy Springs’ Titles @ Twilight, a monthly program that promotes local authors. Inspired by true events, the novel explores the perils of a parent/child relationship amidst the world of criminal defense. Titles @ Twilight is held on first Wednesdays in the Heritage Sandy Springs Community Room. Free. 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs. Info: heritagesandysprings.org.

Thursday, Feb. 15, 6 to 9 p.m.

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Handcrafted jewelry made of precious metals, glass, beads, gemstones and more will be sold at a wide range of prices in a fundraiser for the Spruill Center for the Arts and the Spruill Metals Jewelry Program. Metal sculpture and handforged items will also be for sale. Free. 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Info: spruillarts.org.

LEARN SOMETHING DUNWOODY FINE ART ASSOCIATION Wednesday, Feb. 7, 9:30 a.m.

All interested artists are invited to attend

RAISING TOMATOES Saturday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m.

Master Gardener Richard Oosterholtz discusses choosing tomato plants and planting and disease prevention techniques in the monthly education session of Dunwoody Community Garden & Orchard. DCGO education sessions are held monthly on second Saturdays. Free. DCGO greenhouse, opposite the skate park in Brook Run Park, 4770 Georgia Way South, Dunwoody. Info: dcgo.org.

“FABULOUS FROGS AND THEIR FRIENDS”

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 9:30 a.m.

Speaker Linda May, of the state Department of Natural Resources, discusses how Georgia amphibians affect our future at this month’s meeting of the Dunwoody Garden Club. The garden club meets monthly on second Wednesdays from September through May. Room 4 of the North DeKalb Cultural Center, located in the same building as the Dunwoody Library. Free. 5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Info: dunwoodygardenclub.com.

MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE SPEAKS AT MARIST Thursday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.

National youth mental health advocate Ross Szabo will share his own experience with mental illness in order to educate others about mental health in a presentation at Marist School. Szabo was director of outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign from 20022012 and is the author of “Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health.” Free; donations accepted to the Heads Up for Harry Foundation. Centennial Center, Marist School, 3790 AshfordDunwoody Road N.E., Brookhaven. Registration requested: marist.com/RossSzabo.

Art & Entertainment | 9

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

DEATH PENALTY DISCUSSION AND BOOK SIGNING Thursday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Community and faith leaders and special guest Sister Helen Prejean will participate in a panel discussion on the death penalty in America at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church. Prejean is the author of “Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty.” The forum will be followed by a reception and signing of “A Case for Life: Justice, Mercy and the Death Penalty,” written by five contributing authors including the Right Reverend Robert Wright, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. Free. Registration requested. 805 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs. Info: connecting.episcopalatlanta.org.

“FACE JUGS/PEOPLE POTS: SOUTHERN TRADITION, GLOBAL HUMAN IMPULSE” Thursday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m.

Inspired by John Burrison’s latest book, “Global Clay,” this author talk at the Atlanta History Center explores the tradition of making jugs featuring human faces through generations and around the world. Burrison is Regents Professor of English and director of the Folklore Curriculum at Georgia State University. $10; $5 members. 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Buckhead. Reservations required: 404-814-4150 or atlantahistorycenter.com/lectures.

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10 | Commentary

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Guest Column / Making our own luck on transit policy Five years ago, it wasn’t easy to engage folks at Georgia’s Capitol in a serious conversation about transportation. The sting of loss from 2012’s transportation referendums in most regions of the state – especially congested Atlanta – was still relatively fresh. Money in the state budget was still tight. Teachers were still being furloughed in the aftermath of the great recession. There were many other issues that political leaders could fix. Easier, cheaper issues.

Between the 2014 study committee and the 2015 session, Gooch was elected Senate majority whip, ceding the transportation chairmanship to Tommie Williams, who has been succeeded by Sen. Brandon Beach of Alpharetta, a study committee member. Senators from opposite ends of Ga. 400 split the load, helping translate the needs of urban and rural Georgia to each other. The work of the study committee turned an issue that most preferred to avoid into a bill that received a biparti-

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C O NTA C T US Founder & Publisher Steve Levene stevelevene@reporternewspapers.net Editorial Managing Editor John Ruch johnruch@reporternewspapers.net INtown Editor: Collin Kelley Editor-at-Large Joe Earle Staff Writers Dyana Bagby, Evelyn Andrews Copy Editor: Donna Williams Lewis Creative and Production Creative Director Rico Figliolini rico@reporternewspapers.net Graphic Designer: Soojin Yang Advertising Director of Sales Development Amy Arno amyarno@reporternewspapers.net Sales Executives Julie Davis, Jeff Kremer, Janet Porter, Jim Speakman Office Manager Deborah Davis deborahdavis@reporternewspapers.net Contributors Robin Conte, Phil Mosier

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FILE/JOE EARLE

Gridlocked traffic on Perimeter Center’s Hammond Drive during “Snowmageddon” on Jan. 28, 2014, the same day PolicyBEST held a press conference about transportation solutions.

After months of planning, PolicyBEST was launched on Jan. 28, 2014 with a press conference to get the public focused on the real problems of Georgia’s transportation system again. We brought together leaders of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Tea Party and the Sierra Club to note agreement there was a problem, and several areas where there was also consensus on a path to solutions. During the press conference, it began to snow, with the storm achieving the nickname “Snowmageddon.” Atlantans attempted to exit the city en masse. Gridlock ensued. Within 24 hours, Atlanta’s traffic was international news. As for getting people to focus on a problem, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. The chairmen of the Transportation Committees, Jay Roberts in the House and Steve Gooch in the Senate, took up the issue in a high-level study committee over the next year. Roberts was from Ocilla in deep south Georgia. Gooch is from Dahlonega in the north Georgia mountains. They managed to turn the need into action, culminating in a bill that reformulated Georgia’s gas tax structure for the first time since the Nixon administration, moved money from existing sources to the GDOT’s budget, and added user fees to vehicles not paying gas taxes to maintain Georgia’s roads.

san supermajority of votes in both the House and Senate. Almost 1 billion additional dollars were added to transportation spending annually. It was a good victory, but it didn’t end the discussion. 2015’s Transportation Funding Act provided money to resume deferred maintenance on Georgia’s aging bridges and for resurfacing roads, with some left over for major interchange improvements throughout the state and upgrades to Georgia’s freight corridors. There was not enough money to fully address congestion in metro Atlanta, but the bill did lay down a marker with an eye toward the future. It made available direct money from the state to be used for Georgia’s transit agencies in the form of grants. It was a signal that there remained work to be done, both in the legislature and with public acceptance of transit beyond Atlanta’s urban core. Now, Beach is the Senate Transportation Commitee chairman and Rep. Kevin Tanner chairs the House committee. Tanner is from Dawsonville, also at the northern rural extremity of Ga. 400. Sen. Gooch remains actively involved, having helped secure funding in 2017’s session for an effort to have consultants quantify the need and possible solutions for transit in Georgia.

This planning started the effort to present a transit solution when it wasn’t clear there would be a receptive audience. There remain easier, cheaper problems for legislators to fix. This time the catalyst for renewed interest wasn’t a snowstorm, though we’ve had more than our seasonal share. Instead, Amazon’s surprise announcement that it would be searchCharlie Harper ing for a coris the publisher of porate campus GeorgiaPol.com and of up to 50,000 the executive director of PolicyBEST, which employees has focuses on policy brought visibility issues of business and resolve to the climate, education, science and medicine, issue. and transportation. Amazon made clear what corporate relocations of NCR, State Farm and others have tipped off to state leaders: The recruitment and retention of high wage corporate employers will follow the tracks of transit. Those counties and municipalities without transit need not apply. As such, Georgians now have a House speaker from Blue Ridge, a lieutenant governor from Hall County, a governor who resides in Habersham, and a House Transportation Committee chairman from Dawsonville looking to figure

out the governance structure that will get suburbanites comfortable while acknowledging the decades of investment from Fulton and DeKalb residents. Sen. Beach remains a champion of expansion and economic development from Alpharetta, while Sen. Gooch of Dahlonega remains an interested party — one who will ultimately be counting Senate votes. If the governance puzzle can be unlocked, funding is expected to follow. Amazon has helped focus the transit discussion, but the preparations were started before they were in the picture. As such, bills are expected soon to help expand transit — and the economic development opportunities that come with it — to a wider footprint. It’s always better to be lucky than good. The state’s leaders who recognized the problem, many of whom hail from outside the metro Atlanta area, know it’s even better to make your own luck. BK

Commentary | 11

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Celebrating the Super Bowl with a ‘Snackadium’ This is not about the game. I don’t have a favorite, and I’m not going to talk about it at all. This is only about the accompaniments to the game — that is, the props, the décor, and specifically, the food that complete the experience and make the recreational viewing of the game so enjoyable. This is about an architectural feat so SPECIAL grand that I must make mention of it in Robin, left, and friend Cathy enjoy the this column, even though I did not have a “Snackadium” for last year’s Super Bowl. hand in its creation. This is about Snackadiums. guacamole green AstroTurf, opting inAnd this is about my friend and stead for a very tasty dead Bermuda, in neighbor, Cathy. the form of Velveeta dip and my Vidalia Cathy was hosting the Super Bowl onion dip (derived from a recipe which party last year and asked me if I would I’m sure you’ve tried, but which I have like to help her cook for it. Since Cathy tweaked to perfection). has five children at home, and But her teenage daughter since my nest is practically made the compelling arguempty, and since Cathy is also Robin Conte is a writer ment that Cathy’s outstandexcellent company, and since, and mother of four who ing structure would not be as we all know, it’s more fun to lives in Dunwoody. She complete without a green cook at your neighbor’s house can be contacted at football field, and this we than your own, I agreed. robinjm@earthlink.net. could not deny. Then the week before the So Cathy whipped out her game I received a text from X-Acto knife and cut a foam Cathy informing me that she board to the exact dimenwas thinking about arranging sions needed, then whipped the game-food into the shape up some guacamole schmear of a football field — a curand topped the field with rent trend of which I was unmayo lines and olive and onaware — and so I did a quick ion helmets. At pregame, she Google search and discovered covered the dead-Bermuda the world of Snackadiums and dips with the avocado footquickly texted back that I was ball-field for the photos, and in. at game-time we removed the I spent the rest of that week field and dug into the underproudly announcing to my lying dips. kids that I was going to build a SnackaThe whole thing was a sensation. dium. The point is, I can’t take credit for Now here’s the thing. Cathy can do any of it; I can only take credit for havanything she puts her mind to. She could ing a very clever friend. I did, FYI, gluemake an Eiffel tower out of cream puffs stick some decorative logos onto the side and pretzel sticks. She could make the of the stadium, and I also provided some Taj Mahal from Cheez Doodles and Ding carrots and the onion dip, so I guess you Dongs. She could recreate the Mattercould say that I was an accomplice. horn using a Toblerone bar and a few jars And because I’m very fond of you, of marshmallow fluff. dear reader, and because I know you’re Basically, Cathy is extraordinarily cawondering, I will now share my recipe pable, whereas I am not. I, in fact, need for Sweet Onion Dip: help opening a bottle of wine. ■ 2 cups roughly chopped Vidalia So my kids may not have believed me, or sweet onion but the extent of my incompetence is pre■ 1 cup shredded Swiss cisely why I was so stoked about having a and Gruyere cheese, combined hand in the creation. ■ 1 cup grated Parmesan and I arrived at her house on the Saturday pecorino Romano cheese, combined before the game and found, to my amaze■ ½ cup mayo ment, a fully constructed Snackadium. ■ 1 tablespoon hot sauce She was correct, of course, in not waitMix together. Pour into baking dish and ing until the day before the game to build bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes, until bubbly the thing. Why, I have since learned that and beginning to brown on top grown men spend months planning and And so, as Cathy dusts off her Snackbuilding their own food-filled-fields. adium and prepares to fill it for another She soothed my ego by stating that she game, I hope I have inspired you to creneeded help decorating it and filling it. ate one of your own. If not, you can still OK! I’m still in! make onion dip. We focused on the field. We nixed the

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City budgets $125K for big acts at Cherry Blossom Fest BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net

The City Council will spend $125,000 for “nationally known” music acts at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival set for March 24-25 at Blackburn Park. City spokesperson Burke Brennan told the mayor and City Council at its Jan. 23 meeting that Live Nation, founder of Music Midtown, is currently negotiating with four nationally known acts to play at the festival. Live Nation partnered with the city this year to bring in some major names to the fest for a $1 fee to the city, Brennan said. “Live Nation is in the midst of negotiations with four nationally known acts, and a few smaller ones on behalf of the city of Brookhaven for the fee of $1,” he said. “In our first year of the Cherry Blossom Festival, we had a couple of established, but very ‘golden-oldies’ acts,” Brennan said. “In subsequent years, we have had some great music attractions with some name recognition. This is the first year that we are partnering with Live Nation.” Last year’s headliner was Ed Roland of the hit rock band Collective Soul, who lives in Atlanta and performed at the festival with his Sweet Tea Project. Other smaller music acts included a blues band, an R&B band and some classic rock such as Wesley Cook, the Breeze Kings and Gurufish. The city currently has $90,000 out in offers, Brennan said, and the additional $35,000 is for “collateral expenses” such as equipment, catering, hotel and contract riders. This year, the city will also spend approximately $25,000 for local promotion. “In year’s past, we limited ourselves to freebies and to the exposure afforded to us through media sponsorships,” Brennan said. “This year you will see ads in many of our weekly print publications in addition to media sponsorships.” Stone Mountain Park is one of the festival’s media sponsors and has advertisements for the festival at its Summit Sky-

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ride and Snow Mountain area. “Our partner and sponsor Discover DeKalb has earmarked $90,000 for regional and national marketing and branding,” Brennan said, an approximate 50 percent decrease from last year. Last year, Discover DeKalb, the official nonprofit hospitality and tourism agency for DeKalb County, spent nearly $200,000 advertising the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival, including paying out $45,000 to “digital influencers” to promote the festival on social media and more than $70,000 on out-of-state billboards. About 15,000 people attended the fest last year, the same as in 2016, according to city officials. This year, Discover DeKalb’s spending will go toward: $40,000 for regional radio advertising; $39,000 for the City branding, media development and execution from Porter Novelli; $11,000 dedicated for social media influencers, including Geo-targeted social media postings. The city also has its own request with Porter Novelli about the development of an interactive festival smart phone app. “Depending on pricing and lead time, we may ask for an additional allocation as it pertains to this,” Brennan said. Brennan said all the funds to pay for the festival are from hotel/motel taxes “and because the event is regional in nature, the funds will benefit the area hotels that are paying the taxes in the first place.” Discover DeKalb is also a partner and sponsor of the Cherry Blossom Festival, and is sponsoring a digital billboard campaign at no additional cost to the City of Brookhaven, Brennan said. Last year for the first time, Discover DeKalb spent more than $70,000 renting billboards in other states in what it called “feeder” cities to metro Atlanta to promote the Cherry Blossom Festival. They included seven billboards in Birmingham, Ala.; four in Charlotte, N.C.; nine in Columbia, S.C.; one in Chattanooga, Tenn.; and six in Nashville, Tenn. Discover DeKalb also rented billboards in Rome, Ga., and Calhoun, Ga.

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Community | 13

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Venues challenge city’s new $100K liquor license fees Continued from page 1

$225,000 a year for six years to cover public safety costs, to reimburse the city for its ordinance, the four now are classified as legal fees, to donate land along Peachtree “entertainment venues” and are now reCreek for a city park and to contribute up quired to pay a $50,000 liquor license fee to $75,000 for that park. The settlement folto sell distilled spirits for consumption on lowed a lengthy legal battle with the city as premises and $50,000 to sell beer and wine it tried to close the strip club down shortly for consumption on premises. after incorporation. The Pink Pony is also Before, when they were classified as resslated to close in Brookhaven in 2020 as taurants, their liquor license fees only cost part of the settlement. about $5,000. Under the code, entertainChapman also explained that the police ment venues are venues that have a disc department last June presented to the City jockey, a dance floor or a stage, or all three. Council a list of its “top 10” establishments “I have been practicing more than 20 with the highest number of calls and inciyears, and I have never heard of a $100,000 dent reports between midnight and 6 a.m. alcohol license fee,” Cary Wiggins, attorney over a 15-month period in 2016 and 2017. for Medusa Restaurant & Lounge, XS Ultra The four venues whose license fees were Lounge and Josephine Lounge, said in closraised were on the list, with dozens of calls ing arguments at the Brookhaven Alcohol to each place, Chapman said. Board’s Jan. 30 meeting. According to police, between Jan. 1, The city’s Alcohol Board listened to ap2016, and May 15, 2017, there were 291 inpeals by the Rush Lounge on Jan. 22 and by cidents reported at 10 late-night venues, nine of which are located on Buford Highway and in Northeast Plaza. The other is the Pink Pony on Corporate Boulevard, visible from Buford Highway. All four establishments denied their alcohol license renewals are located in suites in Northeast Plaza, where numerous other businesses are located. “We used the Pink Pony as a model ... but did not want to impose the entire $225,000 amount DYANA BAGBY City Attorney Chris Balch, left, and Alan Begner, because if they all came into comattorney representing Rush Lounge, make their case pliance [by paying the $100,000] to the city’s Alcohol Board at a Jan. 22 hearing. we would be able to pay for enough officers to monitor the area,” ChapMedusa Restaurant & Lounge on Jan. 30. man said. Appeals by XS Ultra Lounge and Josephine “Was there any independent analysis or Lounge will be set for a date yet to be deaudit on this magic number of $100,000?” termined. A timeline for when a decision Wiggins asked. of the board to either uphold or reject the “No,” Chapman answered. city’s denials has not been established. Alan Begner, who represented Rush The city contends it has the right to Lounge at the Jan. 22 hearing, argued that charge the $100,000 liquor license fees state law limits the fees that cities can to these venues — the only venues of the charge for alcohol licenses to $5,000. Balch more than 100 businesses with liquor lisaid the $5,000 only regulates fees for packcenses in the city to receive such a signifiage sales, not for businesses selling alcohol cant rate hike — because of numerous poto drink on premises. lice calls and police resources spent at the The “entertainment venue” classificaestablishments. tion citing any venue with a DJ, dance floor The high fees will be used to offset city or stage, or all three, is the “most arbitrary resources spent on police officers to rerule,” Begner said. spond to the calls, according to Assistant “It is meant to be a death penalty. NoCity Manager and Finance Director Steve body can pay $100,000 and survive ... this Chapman. ruins jobs for hundreds of employees,” Be“The residents are currently subsidizing gner said. these businesses,” he said. In his closing arguments at the Jan. 30 Wiggins also questioned how the city hearing, Balch said these venues are trying came up with the $100,000 figure. Chapto play “fast and loose with the rules, like man said he and City Attorney Chris Balch they always do.” derived the figure by using the city’s cur“All the rest is smoke and mirrors,” he rent business model with the Pink Pony, said. He asked the Alcohol Board to tell a sexually oriented business with nude these businesses “if they want to play in dancing and alcohol. Brookhaven, then play by the rules. If they In 2014, the Pink Pony agreed to a legal don’t want to play by the rules, they can go settlement to pay the police department somewhere else.”

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Community Briefs NO R TH F O R K P EA C HT R EE C R EEK WATER SHED M EETI NG S ET FO R FEB . 7

Ultimately, it’s your experience that matters. To be sure, we’re proud of our 30 years of experience in senior living. But, to us, what really matters is your experience at our communities. We do everything with that idea clearly in mind. So, go ahead, enjoy yourself with great social opportunities and amenities. Savor fine dining every day. And feel assured that assisted living services are always available if needed. We invite you to experience The Piedmont for yourself at a complimentary lunch and tour. Please call 404.381.1743 to schedule.

Valentine’s Day Luncheon Wednesday, February 14th • 12:00pm Celebrate all things lovely with friends, old and new. Feast on delicious foods and delight in the sweets and treats of the holiday. Please RSVP to 404.381.1743.

The city public works department will host a public meeting on the North Fork Peachtree Creek Watershed Improvement Plan on Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Latin American Association, 2750 Buford Highway. The City Council authorized a $187,000 watershed improvement study in April 2017 that will identify projects to improve water quality in North Fork Peachtree Creek. The project will coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions within the watershed and follow the city’s Peachtree Creek Greenway master plan. The study and plan are slated to be completed by May 2018. The project will evaluate and characterize watershed conditions; identify problems, impairments and threats; identify causes and sources that may impact the watershed’s health; hold two public meetings to discuss the project; determine strategies to maintain and restore the health of the watershed; identify funding sources; and develop the watershed improvement plan. The study also will investigate contamination in the creek and identify projects that would improve the water quality and alleviate flooding. The North Fork Peachtree Creek Watershed originates in southern Gwinnett County and flows through unincorporated DeKalb, Chamblee, Doraville and Brookhaven.

CITY PAYS $6 5 0 K FO R A NO THER P LO T FO R PEAC HT R EE C R EEK G R EENWAY

The City Council approved Jan. 23 buying 1.3 acres at 2036 North Druid Hills Road for $650,000. The property will be used for an entrance into the planned Peachtree Creek Greenway. The transaction is expected to be wrapped up by the end of January, City Attorney Chris Balch said. The price was negotiated at fair market value, he said. The property owner, Pope Brick and Metal Building, known locally as the “sign shop,” worked collaboratively with the city to sell the property, City Manager Christian Sigman said. With this purchase and the recent donation of about 2 acres from the Salvation Army headquarters, the city now owns both sides of the lower end of the creek, where the Greenway begins. The city is currently embroiled in an eminent domain battle with the property owners of 19 acres of Briarwood Road that the city wants to use as a trail head for the greenway. Most of the property along the 3-mile stretch of greenway within Brookhaven is private property. The city is working with several property owners along the North Fork of Peachtree Creek to purchase land for the linear park that is expected to connect eventually to Chamblee, Doraville, PATH 400 in Buckhead and then to the Atlanta BeltLine.

M EM B ERS NA M ED T O NEW C I TY CO NVENTION A ND V I S IT O R S B UR EA U

The City Council activated its new Brookhaven Convention and Visitors Bureau with the appointment of seven trustees at the Jan. 23 City Council meeting. The bureau was created under the city’s charter and authorizes the city to contract with other governmental, agencies or nonprofit organizations to promote tourism, conventions and trade shows. The new trustees are: ■ Discover DeKalb Executive Director & CEO James Tsismanakis ■ Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board of Directors Jay Groundwater ■ Oglethorpe University Director of Special Events Sharon Moskowitz;

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Community | 15

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net ■ Atlanta Hawks Senior Director Eric Platte ■ Al Parnell, member of the Brookhaven Restaurant Association ■ Susan Oh, member of We Luv BuHi board of directors ■ Peter Dunn, hotel representative All appointees are to serve two-year terms. They join City Manager Christian Sigman, City Clerk Susan Hiott and Communications Director Burke Brennan, who were appointed in December 2017. The city’s 2018 budget sets aside $1 million for the creation of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Funding for the city’s own CVB comes from the new revenue stream created last year by increasing hotel-motel taxes to 8 percent from 5 percent. The tax increase also will fund the Peachtree Creek Greenway.

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The City Council on Jan. 23 approved a resolution to ask the Legislature to approve a bill this year that would allow the city to form a Public Facilities Authority. The new authority would be used to raise capital through the issuance of bonds to pay for such projects as the Peachtree Creek Greenway. “It gives us the flexibility in using the revenue streams that already exist with cheaper construction costs, rather than waiting 20 years from now,” City Attorney Chris Balch said. The cities of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody have their own public facilities authorities.

DA D DY DA U GH TER VA LEN TI N E’ S DANCE FEB . 10

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its annual Daddy Daughter Valentine’s Dance on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Lynwood Park Recreation Center, 3360 Osborne Road. “This wonderful Brookhaven tradition is a chance for fathers and daughters to spend a fun, memorable evening together, with great keepsakes to take home,” Parks and Recreation Director Brian Borden said. Participants will have a chance to have their photos taken, a DJ will play hit songs and requests, and refreshments and giveaways will be included. The event costs $25 per family and is for girls ages 5 to 15. To register, call 404-6370512 or visit brookhavenga.gov.

POLICE ROLL OUT INAUGURAL CITIZENS ON PATROL PROGRAM

The Police Department and City Council recognized at its Jan. 23 meeting the inaugural members of the Brookhaven Police Department C.O.P.S. Program, or Citizens on Patrol. Members include Shawn Perkins, Corinna Matthies, Robert E. Bean, Paul O’Connor, John Butkovich, Mike Hibbard and John Tansey. The members are required to atDYANA BAGBY tend 10 weeks of training through the The new Citizens on Patrol vehicle. Citizen Police Academy and then another seven weeks of Citizens on Patrol classes. Their duties will include assisting Brookhaven police officers on such things as directing traffic and conducting health and welfare checks, according to Chief Gary Yandura.

C O N T R A C T A P P ROVED F OR DREW VALLEY SI DEWA LK C ON STRUC TIO N

A contract for $95,000 was awarded Jan. 23 by the City Council to Site Engineering for sidewalk construction on E. Drew Valley Road. In November 2017, the council authorized and funded construction of the sidewalk on the north side of the road, from Burch Circle to E. Drew Valley Road, and bids were solicited after the needed engineering design work was completed. The scope of the project construction is of approximately 500 feet of 5-foot sidewalk with a 2-foot landscape strip where allowed. The project will use excess existing paving width to minimize impacts to adjacent property owners.

M UR PHEY C A N DLER PA RK OP EN FIELD PR OJEC T DEA DLI N E EXTEND ED

The City Council on Jan. 23 extended the deadline for completion of the Murphey Candler Park open space field project to March 5. The original deadline was Jan. 31. The contractors for the project, Tri-Scapes Inc., asked for the extension due to several days of bad weather and material delays, according to Parks and Recreation Director Brian Borden. The city broke ground on the open field project in September. The City Council approved funding the 1.9-acre space that will include a walking trail along the perimeter of the park. The open space will also include additional seating. Total cost for the project is $591,203. Murphey Candler Park is located at 1551 West Nancy Creek Drive. The open space field is located at the corner of West Nancy Creek Drive and Candler Lake Circle East.

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DeKalb School of the Arts First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta The Galloway School The Lovett School Mount Paran Christian School Oglethorpe University More information at alliancetheatre.org/satellitecamps

SPRING BREAK & SUMMER

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ON SALE NOW! SPRING BREAK CAMPS APR 2 – 6 // SUMMER CAMPS BEGIN MAY 29

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| 17

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Horse Lovers Summer Camp Chastain Horse Park - convenient Buckhead location! Boys and girls ages 4-8 – Mon-Fri 8am-1pm Many weeks to choose from during Summer 2018 Camp activities for our younger riders include horsemanship instruction (grooming, safety and more), riding lessons, crafts and games! Contact us at (404) 252-4244 ext.1 or ponypals@chastainhorsepark.org. More information regarding summer schedule dates and registration form can be found at chastainhorsepark.org, select Riding Services, then select Summer Camp!

JUNE 4 – JULY 20, 2018 AGES 5 – 17 Sports, Music Technology, Fun & Games, Community Service, Science Camp for Girls, Technology, Lego Animation, Robotics, SAT/ACT Prep, Website Design, more...

www.chastainhorsepark.org

404-252-4244 ext.1

EXCITING SUMMER ADVENTURES

T O D AY !

ESA CAMP

June 4th–June 29th, 2018

Your summer. Your adventure.

BEYOND CAMP

Camp Adventures for 2-year-old to 8th grade • Before and After Care • Half and Full Days • Multi-Week Discount

New & Returning Favorites • Drone Camp • Circus Camp • Music Camp • Science Camp • Sports Camp • Preschool Camp and much more! Visit us online at epsteinatlanta.org/esa

Customize your summer camp experience. Galloway’s g360 Summer Camp is open to all children ages 3 and up and is held on our campus in beautiful Chastain Park.

18 |

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1&2 week sessions for ages 6-16!

On top of Lookout Mountain on the banks of Little River...

Only 1.5 hours east of Huntsville and 2 hours from Atlanta, Nashville & Birmingham

ACTIVITIES Horseback Riding Swimming (Heated Pool) Ropes Course Climbing Tower Tennis Canoeing Golf Gymnastics Dance Cheerleading Flag Twirling Archery Arts and Cras Knitting Chorus and Drama Outdoor Living Skills Basketball Volleyball Soccer Riﬂery Trip Day River Water Blob Campﬁre every night Counselor-In-Training Christian Leadership

We l c o m e t o R i v e r v i e w C a m p f o r G i r l s ! Yo u r Aw a r d Wi n n i n g C a m p E x p e r i e n c e ! C o n ﬁ d e n c e , C h a r a c t e r, Ad v e n tu r e , I n s p i r a t i o n ! When you attend our summer camp or our mother-daughter weekends, you will have an amazing time on a mountain top, sharing moments of fun, faith, and adventure! Recognized as one of the South’s favorite private summer camp for girls, Riverview’s exciting programs are appreciated by both campers and parents! Girls from the South and International campers as well, are among our camp families!

Dr. Larry and Susan Hooks, Owners/Directors For more information and a free DVD: www.riverviewcamp.com 800-882-0722

Spring & Fall Mother-Daughter Weekend Also Available! Sign up online!

www.riverviewcamp.com

has an extensive Frequently Asked Questions section for ﬁrst-time camper families and several enjoyable videos!

Center for Global Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurial Studies™

Summer Programs 2018 Brandon Hall School

Creative, Visual, Performing & Studio Arts Camps for ages 5g1g

Featuring our Signature Program

Global Youth Leadership in Action ELL Global Village™ Earth Science Field Studies

MondaygFriday, g:ggamggpm Before & After Care, 8amg6pm

5ggg Chamblee Dunwoody Road Register Online at spruillarts.org ggggggggggggggg

June 17 - July 7, 2018; July 8 - July 28, 2018 (3-Week Sessions)

School Break Camps oﬀered in the Spring!

Customized Summer Programs available June through August 2018 Justine McDonald, Director of Summer Programs, jmcdonald@brandonhall.org

www.brandonhall.org/summer

Like/Follow us on Facebook!

facebook.com/BHSGlobalYouth

Find Your Path. Lead The Way.™

SPORTS BROADCASTING CAMP is back for our 11th year in Atlanta

July 16-20, 2018

Boys and Girls 10-18 will have an opportunity to learn from the Pros

Explore art, get messy, and have a blast!

Meet Sports Celebrities Make Sports Anchor Tapes Sign up your young artist for a week filled with creativity, curiosity, and fun. Workshops are for rising first through eighth graders. Space is limited, and camps will fill fast. Register today! REGISTER AT HIGH.ORG/CAMP

Nation’s #1 Sports Broadcasting Camp

Make Play-By-Play Tapes of the Super Bowl & NBA Finals Make Reporting Tapes from a Pro Stadium Participate in Sports Talk Radio and Pardon The Interruption (PTI) shows and much more

Day/Overnight options available. For more info: 800.319.0884 or www.playbyplaycamps.com facebook.com/sportsbroadcastingcamps • youtube.com/sportsbroadcastcamp

| 19

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

NOW ENROLLING 4 YEARS TO 12 YEARS iculum

Summer Curr

soccer

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arts & crafts

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May 29th - August 3rd

It’s all about Fun! swimming

games

$225 per week Includes Most Field Trips ($100 Enrollment Fee)

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20 |

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Full Day preschool for age 1-5 now accepting enrollment • Small class size • Montessori Chinese bilingual • Academically challenging & culturally rich • All highly trained teachers with master degree • Engaged parent community

Chinese Summer Camp (Weekly Theme)

Calligraphy and Chinese painting, paper cutting, songs & games, arts, kung fu Learn Chinese Folk stories, festivals and much more!

3039 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 (404) 448-1818 | maylanacademy.org

SUMMER CAMP 2018 MAY 30-AUGUST 3

Have a Blast! with us this summer. Our professional staff has prepared another exciting summer of fitness and educational fun. We will encourage each child to express his or her own creativity as well as explore and discover new activities.

Choose from 2 exciting and amazing camps!

SUMMER CAMP 2019

Reporter Classifieds APARTMENT FOR RENT Midtown Prime Ansley Golf Course Area 2 BR/ 2 BA 1300 sq. ft. Apartment includes Storeroom & Off-Street Pkg. Ideal roommate layout. street level classic Apt in multifamily house has High vaulted/beamed ceilings, crown molding, windows galore, gas starter FPLC, huge built-In bookshelf, W/D, deck w Atl skyline view. Few steps to Ansley Mall. Walk to Shops/Attractions/ Beltline. Close to I-85/I-75. Available now. 404-874-4642 for details/ No texts pls.

SERVICES AVAILABLE Driveways & Walkways – Replaced or repaired. Masonry, grading, foundations repaired, waterproofing and retaining walls. Call Joe Sullivan 770-616-0576. Home Tending – Regular inspections of your unoccupied property…”0n market or just away”. Call Charles at 404-229-0490. 20% Off Cleaning & Repair of all Rugs – must mention coupon in Reporter Newspapers. Oriental Rug Shop, 5548 Peachtree Ind. Blvd, Chamblee. Call 404-995-8400

:: Sports Camp :: Tennis Camp Space is limited. Register today!!

To Advertise, call 404-917-2200 ext 110 PERSONAL SERVICES

GARAGE SALE

Female Care-giver with 18 years’ experience – Seeks to barter services for living quarters inside the perimeter. Services: Care-giver, Chauffeur, Personal Assistant and light House-keeping. Sweet indoor cat coming with. 470-351-7237.

Downsizing – TV’s, dining table with leaf extension purchased from IKEA, headboards, fridge, antique bench, etc. Call 803-608-0792.

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Community | 21

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Atlanta airport chief talks power outage, Amazon bid BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

The general manager of Atlanta’s airport commented on some hot issues — including a recent major power outage and the Amazon headquarters bid — during a stopover at a Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce lunch Jan. 25. Roosevelt Council Jr. is marking his first anniversary as leader of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, though new Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has a search underway for a new general manager. Council previously served the city of Atlanta in other roles, including interim chief financial officer and budget and fiscal policy chief. Council’s appearance at the chamber luncheon, held at the Westin Atlanta Pe-

rimeter North hotel, focused of the airport for 11 hours, a naon touting a $6 billion expantional embarrassment that sion and upgrade master plan cost millions of dollars in lost intended to keep the airport business. The outage involved competitive for 20 years. The a fire in an underground Georairport is major economic drivgia Power Co. facility that er for metro Atlanta and all of killed an electric system and Georgia. Council said he exits intended backup. Just hours pects the airport will mark its before Council’s speech, the AtRoosevelt Council Jr. 20th consecutive year as the lanta Journal-Constitution reworld’s busiest by passenger ported that Georgia Power still volume — more than 104 million flyers a has not determined the cause of the failure. year — once 2017 numbers are calculated. “I’ve become a whole lot more humorThe following are Council’s comments ous since I had that power outage,” Council on some topics during his speech or in a said in one of a few jokes about the failure brief interview afterward. during his speech. Asked afterward for the serious response, Council said it is up to Georgia Power outage Power to figure out the outage’s cause. But, A Dec. 17 power failure shut down much he added, “We’re also trying to ensure it

doesn’t happen again” by finding a way to keep main and backup circuits separate. He said the outage was a “1 in a million thing,” but with major consequences the airport does not want to repeat.

Amazon bid

Council also mentioned the airport’s role in the Amazon headquarters bid. The Seattle-based corporation is auctioning the right for cities or regions to host a gigantic second headquarters, and earlier this month announced that Atlanta is on a 20city short list. A site in Dunwoody’s part of Perimeter Center may be part of Atlanta’s bid, but the state-submitted documents remain secret. Council said he assumes the airport’s massive cargo-handling capabilities are among the reasons Amazon is considering Atlanta’s bid, but not the only one.

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22 | Community

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Density questioned in new Overlay District rewrite

CITY OF BROOKHAVEN

A map of the recently approved Brookhaven-Peachtree Overlay District rewrite divides the area along the Peachtree Road corridor into three Peachtree Road, or PR, districts, that have different density and streetscape requirements to promote walkablity and connectivity.

Continued from page 1 The Overlay District is a special zoning that sets guidelines for urban, pedestrian-friendly development around the MARTA station and Peachtree Road corridor to encourage people to use other modes of transportation rather than cars in the notoriously heavilytrafficked area. Guidelines range from sidewalk sizes and storefront appearances to height and density allowances to keep a “village feel” on Dresden Drive while encouraging larger, mixeduse developments on Peachtree Road and at the MARTA station. Councilmember Bates Mattison, who voted no, expressed his concern that the new law allows developers broader abilities to simply build by right or with only staff approval and eliminates much of the public rezoning process where residents can leverage developers to consider some of their demands. Specifically, Mattison raised concerns that the new ordinance allows up to 120 units per acre in the newly desig-

nated Peachtree Road 1, or PR1 district, to be constructed without public input through a rezoning process or special land use permit process. The new Overlay rewrite divides the area in three PR districts. PR-1 includes the Peachtree Road corridor from Club Drive to Ashford-Dunwoody Road. PR-2 includes Dresden Drive, Brookhaven Park and Town Brookhaven, and PR-3 includes Apple Valley Road. Mattison sought to amend the ordinance by requiring a SLUP in the PR1 district for developments with more than 60 units per acre. His amendment was rejected by the rest of the council. “The 120 units per acre is there for a reason,” Councilmember John Park said of the new zoning requirement at the council meeting. Changing a detail like this at the last minute after a more than six-month process could lead to an inconsistent application of the law, Park added. “We have to have respect for the process ... with consultants, staff, the Planning Commission. I almost feel like if

[we did this] we would be saying thanks, developments on Peachtree,” he said. but no thanks,” Park said. “I trust the Community Development Director people that put this together. I think it’s Patrice Ruffin said there are other standangerous to legislate from the dais.” dards in the ordinance that would limit City Manager Christian Sigman said units per acre and noted that now there a steering committee has been in place are legally enforceable density restricfrom the beginning of the process and tions in the Overlay when in the previfor Mattison to try to make such a drasous Overlay there was none. tic last-minute change “cheapens the “First of all, the ordinance does not entire steering committee.” specify apartments, rather units per “We had a long process,” Mayor John acre,” Ruffin said. “While the ordinance Ernst said. “We need to get to a point in allows for high density development, the city where the process is upheld to there are other standards in the ordithe end.” nance that would limit the actual numThe MARTA station site is about 15 ber of unit that could be achieved, such acres and various redevelopment conas setbacks, open space, parking, buildcepts previously have been proposed. ing height, etc. Mattison said the new overlay zoning “In other words, 580 units is an absoordinance will allow for almost 1,500 lute maximum on a tract of land large apartments on that property. The city enough to hold 580 units within the also recently lost its long legal battle in confines of every other zoning stipuwhat was known as the Hastings lawlation,” Ruffin said. “On a typical parsuit, where a developer sought to build cel, setbacks, open space and parking a mixed-use development including 273 would limit the density to a fraction of apartments on about 5 acres at 3920, that maximum. It should be reiterated 3926 and 3930 Peachtree Road. that this maximum now exists where The council last year stopped a prothere was no maximum previously.” posed MARTA development, which inOn the MARTA property, developcluded plans for more than 300 aparters can build up to 12-story buildings ments, and fought developers of the with a special land use permit and open Hastings site in court before their petispace of more than 2 acres. tion to have the case heard from the state “The allowances on the MARTA site Supreme Court was denied in December. are the same [as in the previous overlay] Mattison latwith the bonuses er said allowing permitted,” Ruf120 apartments per fin explained. acre without public “The major diffeedback is a step in ference is that the “wrong directhere is a setback tion” for the city. from Apple Val“I cannot unley Road of 150 derstand how my feet of where colleagues are the taller buildsupportive of a ings can be locatlaw which will aled. This provides low almost 1,500 protection to the apartments on the residential develMARTA site, and opments across up to 580 units on Apple Valley that the Hastings site, the previous orwithout any type dinance did not.” of public hearing, Mattison zoning or SLUP, or raised the idea SPECIAL even a design reagain of a deCouncilmember Bates Mattison. view process,” he sign review said in an email board to oversent to constituents. see development in the Overlay district. Both developments were met with sigThe city last year considered a design nificant opposition, in part due to the denreview board for months, but eventualsity issue, but mainly because it wasn’t the ly abandoned the idea after lax commu“right” development, Mattison said. nity participation. Jack Honderd, who “The city was able to stop these projparticipated in the original Brookhavects, with the exception to legal interpreen-Peachtree Overlay District, suggesttation of Hastings, because of our ability ed the city contract with a professionto have a say in the process. Now we will al urban planner to ensure the future have no public input as long as they stay design and development of the MARTA under 120 units per acre, and potentially site meets the city’s criteria. twice the density of apartments,” he said. “This is to make sure ... it meets our “To me, it appears we’ve moved in the dreams and vision for what Brookhav‘wrong direction,’ or at least have diminen wants to be,” he said. “This is our ished our ability to have a say in future heart and center.”

Public Safety | 23

FEBRUARY 2 - 15, 2018 ■ www.ReporterNewspapers.net

Police Blotter / Brookhaven From Brookhaven Police reports dated Jan. 21 through Jan. 28. The following information was pulled from Brookhaven’s Police-2-Citizen website.

Jan. 21, at noon, a simple battery incident was reported.

T H E F T A N D B U R G L A RY

Jan. 24, in the early morning, a battery incident was reported.

4100 block of Brawley Drive — On

Jan. 21, in the early morning, items were stolen from a car. 3300 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 21, in the early morning, a forced entry to a non-residence was reported. 1000 block of Wimberly Road — On

Jan. 21, in the evening, a theft by taking auto incident was reported. 3100 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 21, in the evening, a theft by taking auto incident was reported. 3400 block of Buford-Highway — On

Jan. 21, at night, a theft was reported. 4000 block of East Brookhaven Drive

— On Jan. 22, in the afternoon, items were stolen from a car. 3300 block of Buford High-

way — On Jan. 22, in the afternoon, a theft was reported. 1400

block of Northeast Expressway — On Jan. 22, in the evening, a forced entry to a nonresidence was reported. 1900 block of North Druid

Hills Road — On Jan. 22, at night, items were stolen from a car. 2000 block of North Druid Hills

Road — On Jan. 22, at night, items were stolen from a car. 2000 block of Bramblewood

Drive — On Jan. 23, in the morning, a forced entry burglary to a residence was reported.

1900 block of

Mannville Drive — On Jan. 24, in the early morning, an aggravated assault was reported. 2800 block of

Buford Highway — On Jan. 25, in the early morning, a verbal dispute was reported.

ARRESTS 1800 block of Corporate Boulevard —

On Jan. 21, at midnight, a man was arrested and accused of theft of services. 2500 block of Appalachee Drive — On Jan. 21, in the morning, a man was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed.

3200 block of Buford Highway — On Jan. 21, in the afternoon, a man was arrested and accused of failing to maintain his lane.

1400 block of Cliff Valley Way — On

3200 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 26, at night, a woman was arrested and accused of driving uninsured. 3300 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 27, in the early morning, a man was arrested and accused of after-hours sales at a private club. 3600 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 27, in the morning, a man was arrested and accused of public intoxication.

3300 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 27, in the evening, a woman was arrested and accused of jaywalking. 2900 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 27, at night, a man was arrested and accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. 400 block of Lincoln Court Avenue —

On Jan. 28, in the morning, a man was arrested and accused of public intoxication.

OT H E R I N C I D E N T S 4100 block of Regency Park Court —

On Jan. 21, at midnight, a fraud impersonation call was reported. 1800 block of Corporate Boulevard —

On Jan. 21, a weapon was illegally fired. 1000 block of Barone Avenue — On

Jan. 21, in the early morning, a person was reported injured. 2900 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 21, in the afternoon, a hit and run accident was reported. 1000 block of Devine Circle — On Jan.

24, at night, terroristic threats were reported.

1600 block of Briarwood Road — On Jan. 21, at night, a man was arrested and accused of driving with a suspended license.

Jan. 22, in the early morning, a woman was arrested and accused of driving under the influence of alcohol.

21, in the early morning, a verbal dispute was reported.

2600 block of Buford Highway — On Jan. 25, in the evening, a woman was arrested and accused of public indecency. A few hours later, she was arrested again and accused of disorderly conduct on North Druid Hills Road.

Jan. 27, in the afternoon, a man was arrested and accused of not following tail light requirements.

3000 block of Buford Highway — On

3700 block of Watkins Place — On Jan.

2000 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 24, in the evening, items were stolen from two cars.

A S S AU LT

3100 block of Buford Highway — On Jan. 23, in the morning, a woman was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed. 2700 block of Buford Highway — On Jan. 23, at night, a man was arrested and accused of driving under the influence of alcohol.

4000 block of Peachtree Road — On

On Jan. 25, in the evening, a theft was reported.

Jan. 27, in the morning, a man was arrested and accused of violating probation.

Jan. 24, in the morning, items were stolen from a car.

2000 block of Johnson Ferry Road —

2600 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 23, in the morning, a woman was arrested and accused of driving unlicensed.

Northeast Expressway — On Jan. 22, in the early morning, a woman was arrested and accused of driving under the influence of alcohol.

2600 block of Osborne Road — On

2700 block of Buford Highway — On

1100 block of Standard Drive — On

4000 block of Peachtree Road — On

Jan. 22, in the morning, a man was arrested and accused of driving without insurance. 2600 block of Buford Highway — On

Jan. 23, in the early morning, a man was arrested and accused of violating probation.

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24 |

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we have exciting news!

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