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Funding for Peachtree Creek Greenway approved by state, City Council BY DYANA BAGBY dyanabagby@reporternewspapers.net
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A design for the first phase of the Peachtree Creek Greenway is underway and money will come at the start of 2018 to help pay for the much-talkedabout linear park and multi-use path that will eventually tie into the Atlanta BeltLine. The Georgia General Assembly on March 24 approved the City Council’s recent request to raise its hotel/motel tax from 5 percent to 8 percent. The extra revenue will be used to kick start the Greenway project between North Druid Hills Road and Briarwood Road. The bill now goes to the governor for his signature. “Now we’ll be able to leverage those funds to acquire property and easements and start building the Greenway,” Ernst said. “This will be a signature item, something the city has planned for.” Councilmember John Park said the money from the hotel/motel tax increase would go a long way toward paying for the city’s own version of the BeltLine. “The money is supposed to go to-
3/23/17 4:36 PM
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ward building something that will attract people and help the tourism industry,” he said. “We’ll use this for our version of the BeltLine.” Councilmember Linley Jones said she appreciated the Legislature’s approval and was excited to see the Greenway CITY OF BROOKHAVEN A rendering of what the Peachtree Creek Greenway may get underway. look like, with development and the multiuse path. Following the Generfaith and credit of the city, City Managal Assembly’s vote, the City Council er Christian Sigman has said. on March 28 approved entering into a State law requires the hotel/motel $325,276 contract with PATH Foundatax revenue be divided, with half going tion for the design of the first phase to the city for “creation and expansion” of the Greenway. PATH Foundation of a project to drive tourism to the city is working to create a trail network and region — in this case the Greenway throughout metro Atlanta and has been — and the other half going to Discovinvolved with trails such as PATH 400 er DeKalb, the county’s tourism agency, in Buckhead and the Atlanta Beltline. which has agreed to use money to proThe city will focus initial construcmote and advertise the Greenway. State tion on a base trail along the Greenlaw prohibits the money to be used for way between North Druid Hills Road improvements of existing parks, said and Briarwood Road estimated to cost City Attorney Chris Balch in February. about $9 million. The Peachtree Creek Greenway plan Assistant City Manager Steve Chapis a 12-mile multi-use path and linman said in February it’s estimated ear park that is designed, in the long the city’s half of the 3 percent will add term, to connect the Atlanta BeltLine to $650,000 annually to the city’s coffers. Brookhaven, Chamblee and Doraville. The $650,000 will then be used by the Three miles of the Greenway is located city to finance a $9 million loan, or revin Brookhaven. enue bond, over 20 years at 3.93 percent The North Fork of Peachtree Creek principal and interest. begins outside I-285 and mostly flows The revenue stream from the hotel/ along I-85 until it joins the South Fork of motel tax will pay for the revenue bond. Peachtree Creek near the Lindbergh MARRevenue bonds don’t require a public TA station and Path400 in Buckhead. vote because they don’t rely on the full
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The developer for a proposed six-story apartment complex in Lenox Park has withdrawn its plans with the city after strong backlash from residents living in the area. Lenox Park is in the city just east of the northern border of Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. Carl Westmoreland, attorney for WSE Development, asked at the March 28 Brookhaven City Council meeting that the proposed project be withdrawn from the agenda. The council voted to do so. The $65 million proposed project included 273 apartments and a 2,000-square-foot coffee shop on the ground floor. “We’ve certainly got a lot of emails and we take them all seriously,” Councilmember Bates Mattison said. “I believe the applicant heard very clearly what the will of the community is … and I’m glad we will not have to go through a protracted process.” Numerous people who showed up at the meeting wearing red to show opposition to the proposed development filed out after the council voted to approve the withdrawal. The Planning Commission voted March 1 to recommend denial of the proposed development after several residents voiced opposition, citing concerns about increased traffic and additional apartments in the community. Residents also showed Planning Commission members a master plan for their development that does not include apartments, but rather calls for commercial development only. The vacant property is currently zoned for two office buildings with six and eight stories, according to plans filed with the city. --Dyana Bagby
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