High Point Manor Development

For up-to-date information on the High Point Manor Development between High Point and Northland, go to www.highpointmanor.net

City Council public hearing

City Council will hold public hearings for the following rezoning requests on May 2nd, 7:00 p.m., at City Hall, Morgan Falls Office Park, 7840 Roswell Rd:

–5009 Roswell Rd from apts to office bldg.
–279,288,290,298 Summit St/Park Ave from R-4 to R-5 single family residential.

For additional information go to www.sandyspringsga.org  or call 770.730.5600.

Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) needs your input

City of Sandy Springs requests your participation in the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Survey for our section of Roswell Rd corridor!

Read on for info, to include Grant Announcement, Scope of Work,  LCI Survey, and LCI Community Meetings.

LCI Grant Announcement

Sandy Springs received a Livable Centers Initiative grant from Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), to prepare a development plan for Roswell Rd corridor s. of I-285 to Atlanta City and Glenridge Dr from Roswell Rd to Glenridge Connector. The Roswell Rd corridor extends west to Lake Forrest Rd and east to High Point Rd.

Completion of the study will qualify the area to apply through the ARC for priority funding. The grant is based on a total study budget of $125,000, with 80% funded by the grant and a 20% local match. The study must be completed no later than Dec. 14, 2007.
Visit the ARC Web site: www.atlantaregional.com/cps/rde/xchg

For more info, select LCI Meetings, LCI Survey, or LCI Scope of Work at top right of this page.

LCI Survey

PLEASE COMPLETE the LCI Survey by November 26th.   Access the survey on the City’s web site:  http://files.sandysprings-ga.org/cip/LCI%20QUESTIONNAIRE.pdf

This will take you directly to the survey, which you may print and send via mail or scan email/fax directly to the consultant (contact info follows).  Please note that your responses are requested by November 26.

LCI Study of Roswell Corridor, 285 to City of Atlanta, POC:
Venky Babu, AICP, LEED AP
Associate Principal, Sizemore Group
ARCHITECTURE  PLANNING   INTERIORS
1700 Commerce Drive NW
Atlanta,  GA 30318
Tel: 404-605-0690×211    Fax:404-605-0890
Email: venkyb@sizemoregroup.com

For more info, select LCI Meetings, LCI Grant Announcement, or LCI Scope of Work at top right of this page.

LCI Scope of Work: The work to be accomplished under this contract is divided into three major tasks:

Task 1 – Public Involvement
The goal of this task is to develop a local planning outreach process that promotes the involvement of all stakeholders in the study area, with efforts and accommodations made to include low to moderate income, minority, and elderly or disabled citizens. The City will identify all stakeholders and facilitate their involvement in the study process. These tasks will be documented through meeting notices, meeting summaries and other written communications. Responses and acknowledgement of public comments will be addressed in the study reports. The public involvement process shall, at a minimum, include the following components:

• Project Management Team. A Project Management Team that includes a representative from the City, the Consultant, and ARC shall meet monthly to discuss the study progress. The Consultant will submit written monthly progress reports to the City as directed.

• Core Team. A core team shall be established that includes the members of the Project Management Team along with a representative from key stakeholder groups in the study area. The Core Team must include representatives from relevant state, regional and local government departments responsible for land use planning, transportation and housing (including applicable housing authorities/agencies). Representatives from non-profit organizations that provide services in the study area should also be included on the Core Team. This team shall, at a minimum, meet prior to each of the general public meetings (not necessarily on the same day) described below. The key responsibility of the Core Team is to review and comment on materials to be presented at public meetings, help advertise meetings, and distribute information to the larger community.

• General Public Meetings. During the study process, the City shall make a reasonable effort to involve all stakeholders in the study area, including property owners, residents, business owners and employers/employees. A minimum of four (4) General Public Meetings shall be conducted (more meetings are encouraged and may be necessary) to discuss the following topics:

- Kick-off meeting to announce the beginning of the study process, the goals of the study, key dates, and opportunities for public input.
- Data gathering meeting(s) to collect data, information, and opinions from the public on pertinent topics. These meetings can also be used to review preliminary findings and general directions.
- Present draft plan. A draft plan shall be presented to the public for review and comment prior to finalizing the study. This meeting should focus on a review of the study recommendations and action plan.
- Final plan review. The final draft LCI plan should be made available for public comment (in a meeting, open house, or posting) prior to final City approval and submitting deliverables to ARC.

The public involvement process should include a variety of methods, times, and techniques to reach the broadest range of stakeholders possible (i.e. standard public meetings, charrettes, surveys, open house).

Task 2 – Develop a Study

The goal of this task is to assess the subject area’s current land use patterns, transportation patterns and urban design elements. Corridor plans will seek to create efficiency in the transportation systems through land use changes and create a readiness for transit and pedestrian activities. This analysis should be coordinated with other completed studies, programs and organizations (such as TMAs, CIDs, the TIP and RTP). At a minimum, this study will address the following information:

1. Efficiency/feasibility of land uses and mix appropriate for future growth including new and/or revised land use regulations needed to complete the development program.

2. Transportation demand reduction measures.

3. Internal mobility requirements (including safety and security of pedestrian), such as traffic calming, pedestrian circulation, transit circulation, and bicycle circulation.

4. Mixed-income housing, job/housing match and social issues.

5. Continuity of local streets in study area and development of a network of minor roads.

6. Need/identification of future transit circulation systems.

7. Connectivity of transportation system to other centers.

8. Community organization, management, promotion, and economic restructuring to ensure implementation.

9. Stakeholder participation and support.

10. Public and private investment policy.

11. An inventory of pedestrian facilities including location of sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, size/type, and impediments affecting accessibility. This inventory should also include sidewalk projects that currently have committed funding.

12. An Access Management Plan to efficiently manage traffic circulation among parcels along the corridor while limiting vehicular-pedestrian conflicts. This plan should identify potential conflicts and solutions, including but not limited to reducing curbcuts, interparcel access, shared parking, and access roads.

13. Analysis supporting land use changes and its impact on transportation system efficiency and capacity.

14. Proposed typical corridor ROW cross-section and concept plan.

15. Consideration of the impact on adjacent routes resulting from proposed changes to the primary corridor.

Task 3 – Prepare Project Deliverables

The goal of this task is to compile the resuelevant findings, and recommendations into a summary document. Ten (10) printed copies of the summary document shall be provided to the City, along with an electronic file (on CD) of the summary document in its original format and in .pdf format, an Excel spreadsheet of the 5-year action plan (following ARC template), shapefiles for relevant maps, and a separate folder with supporting graphics contained in the report. The summary document shall contain at a minimum the following:

• A description of the study process and methodology, data gathering techniques and findings, and general

• A description of the public participation process used to achieve a community-supported program of activity center improvements.

• A description demonstrating how the study addressed each of the required 15 study deliverables enumerated above.

• Maps and other graphic depictions to support the plan that includes, but not limited to, overall study area, existing land use, future land use, existing transportation facilities, and proposed transportation improvements.

• A market or fiscal feasibility analysis that supports the plan that supports the plan recommendations and ensures the proposed plan is realistic.

• An implementation strategy that describes the organizational structure and process that will be used to ensure the action plan items described below are implemented. Focus should be given to collaboration opportunities with other organizations and strategies to ensure continued support from local elected officials, citizens and businesses. This section should also discuss an evaluation and feedback process that will be used to monitor plan implementation and update the action plan as needed, but at least every five years.

• A 5-year schedule of actions (following a template provided by ARC) that are planned in the study area to implement the study goals, programs and projects. Schedules should include start date, completion date, cost estimate and responsible party. This schedule should include specific actions that implement the findings from each of the 10 study components, including but not limited to:

- A 5-year prioritized description of transportation improvement projects (local, state and federal) that will support the study area goals;

- Housing should be given specific and clear emphasis by developing a description of housing strategies, particularly for affordable and mixed income housing developments, that support a job-housing match, aging in place, and efficient utilization of transportation facilities in the study area; and,

- A description of the changes necessary within the comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, development regulations or other locally adopted plans to support study actions, including a committed schedule for adopting such changes.

In addition, a population and employment data section shall be included as part of the LCI study summary. This section shall contain a comparison of development under current conditions and development under the proposed LCI plan. The data in this section shall contain, at a minimum, current and 25-year projection figures (in five-year increments) for the following areas:

Housing Data

- Number of existing housing units and population

- Number of anticipated housing units and population

- Distribution of proposed housing units by type

Employment Data

- Number of existing jobs

- Number of anticipated jobs

- Square feet of future non-residential development

For more info, select LCI Meetings, LCI Grant Announcement, or LCI Survey at top right of this page.

LCI Meetings

LCI Meetings
Proposed Dates for Future LCI Community Meetings

10/29 -   6-7:30pm Kick-Off Meeting
12/10 -   6-7:30pm Visual Preferences Meeting
1/19 -   9am-2pm Design Workshop
2/25 -   6-7pm Presentation and Wrap-Up

All meetings are being held at Holy Spirit Preparatory School located at 4820 Long Island Drive (across Long Island from the south side of Fountain Oaks Shopping Center).

POC:
Mark Moore, Transportation Planner
City of Sandy Springs
7840 Roswell Road, Building
500Sandy Springs, GA 30350
P) 770-206-2551
F) 770-206-2578
C) 404-867-1640

For more info, select LCI Survey, LCI Grant Announcement, or LCI Scope of Work at top right of this page.

HPCA Zoning Committee Stays Busy in 2006

During 2006, we successfully defended our neighborhood in over 10 cases.  Jane Kelley, President, Windsor Park HOA, expressed her appreciation, saying, ”We have recently had two crucial neighborhood zoning issues, and I cannot thank the HPCA enough for the help they’ve given us.  They have met with us on multiple occasions to discuss our concerns and help plan our strategies.  And they know exactly who to contact to be heard.  Without HPCA’s support, we most likely would have lost the character of our neighborhood.”

2006 Zonings of Interest

• The first zoning in Sandy Springs resulted in a demolition of unsafe, run-down apartments at 5009 Roswell Rd., near the Belle Isle intersection.  A new office building is now being built at the site.
• The Harry Norman Office Building at the corner of Roswell and Beachland, has been approved for an events facility, associated with Food 101, Belle Isle Shopping Center.
• High Point Manor (Northland/High Point) is proceeding to sell lots and developer Tim Rice has been commended by the City Staff for the outstanding, conscientious job he is doing.  At last report, he had not lost any significant dirt from the site and has protected the trees as promised.  Updates available at www.highpointmanor.net.
• Cora Adams property, Greenland off Glenridge, is scheduled for land disturbance and building 30+ homes.
• A high density development to include a storage facility in Hedden Street, off Roswell, just north of Windsor Pkwy, was denied by the City for too much density.
• The Slavic Evangelical Church is currently being considered for conversion to an art/auction gallery with some community facility space.  Apparently, no church group is interested in purchasing this property.  The new owner, Paul Brown, wants to maintain the appearance as is and is working with HPCA and surrounding neighbors to reach an agreement.
• The Crawford Bldg on Glenridge Drive is under consideration for additional office and condos.  The increase in traffic at this site is problematic and the City is working very hard with the developer to reach a traffic solution.
• The cleared area on Glenridge next to the Crawford Bldg and across from High Point was zoned by Fulton County for 120 townhomes.  Before the first certificate of occupancy is issued, a traffic signal at High Point and Glenridge must be installed and synchronized with nearby signals using fiber-optic technology.