September 2020 - Brookhaven Reporter

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reporternewspapers.net

SEPTEMBER 2020 • VOL. 12 — NO. 9

Brookhaven Reporter

EDUCATION GUIDE FALL 2020

►VIRTUAL SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS

►Q&As WITH LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS

Pages 22-30

Dresden Village project returns, may get $13.5M tax break

WORTH KNOWING

Theater groups aim to stage pandemic comebacks P18 AROUND TOWN

Georgia Audubon spreads its wings P19 COMMENTARY

Basic needs of teachers and students must be met P16 The Brookhaven Reporter is mail delivered to homes on selected carrier routes in ZIP 30319 For information: delivery@reporternewspapers.net

SPECIAL

BY ERIN SCHILLING erinschilling@reporternewspapers.net

A site plan of the 4-acre, mixed-use Dresden Village development .

New city tree ordinance is on the way amid cutting controversies BY ERIN SCHILLING erinschilling@reporternewspapers.net

The city is rewriting its tree ordinance to better preserve the tree canopy — something that Brookhaven Heights resident Jon Margolis said he’s noticed has been declining in his neighborhood. The rewrite aims to take out ambiguities in the current ordinance and set clear expectations that builders should try to

preserve trees, Councilmember John Park said. The rewrite comes after a tree canopy study shows the city’s seeing a net loss in tree coverage. Park said the ordinance rewrite is a complicated balance between environmental preservation and not infringing on the rights of the property owners. City spokesperson Burke Brennan said the city has requested proposals from consultants for the ordinance. The city is set See NEW on page 21

The controversial Dresden Village mixedused development that won approval for a property tax break worth up to $13.5 million has strained the city’s relationship with DeKalb County, causing a stall in the city’s federal COVID-19 relief funds and drawing criticism from a county commissioner who says it’s an unnecessary drain on county and school system coffers. Granted under the code name “Project X,” the tax break is drawing criticism from a DeKalb County commissioner as an unnecessary drain on county and school system coffers. The Brookhaven Development Authority approved the 22-year tax abatement during a special called Aug. 12 meeting. The development is valued at about $61 million, according to the development’s project documents. Dresden Village is planned for a 4-acre lot on Dresden Drive near Caldwell Road, a site See DRESDEN on page 20

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