03-31-17 Sandy Springs Reporter

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MARCH 31 - APRIL 13, 2017 • VOL. 11— NO. 7

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Sandy Springs Reporter

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Perimeter Business ► Agents deploy drones, hire models to sell multimillion-dollar homes PAGE 5 ► Cities jump on the logo brand-wagon

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Super-charged students

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Communities of Faith

REBIRTH OF A CHURCH | P16

New zoning code tackles affordability BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

PHIL MOSIER

The Sandy Springs Education Force held its seventh annual STEAM Showcase at North Springs Charter High School on March 15. More than 800 residents and students attended the public portion of the event, where students demonstrated projects in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Mercedes-Benz and Northside Hospital were among the institutions exhibiting their own tech. Lake Forest Elementary fifth-graders, from left, Dianna Farias, Victoria Ramos, Venessa Moreno and Emily Ramos demonstrate a model house they built and wired with battery-powered electricity.

EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR Bringing science to life Page 20

Our streets and our neighborhoods cannot handle the volume of cars that it’s going to take to move the people to the games. Are we prepared for Braves traffic? Residents speak out. See COMMUNITY SURVEY Page 14

OUT & ABOUT Author talks early aviation in Georgia Page 8

As the city drafts its new zoning code, housing affordability is emerging as a top goal and a new bonus system allowing bigger buildings in exchange for community benefits. Dozens of residents attended meetings at City Hall and in council districts over the past couple of weeks to review the draft “Development Code.” Lee Einsweiler of Austin, Texas-based Code Studio is the lead consultant writing the new code. As he said in a preview presentation nearly a year ago, his primary goals are customizing the code to Sandy Springs’ needs and making it easier to understand. When Sandy Springs was incorporated in 2005, it quickly adopted Fulton County’s 1970s-era code as its own, causing seemingly endless controversies and problems in the rapidly redeveloping city. “The fact of the matter is, the existing regulations are outdated,” Einsweiler See NEW on page 15

Police will soon wear body cameras BY JOHN RUCH johnruch@reporternewspapers.net

All Sandy Springs Police Department patrol officers will be wearing body cameras, likely this spring, as the City Council on March 21 approved contracting with TASER International for the equipment. The approximately 70 cameras and related gear will cost $179,275 — less than the department’s $200,000 bodycamera budget this fiscal year, according to Deputy Chief Keith Zgonc. After the first year, ongoing maintenance, liSee POLICE on page 22


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