Commissioner Jeff
Rader requested that we distribute his message below, to share his concerns about the DeKalb County Comprehensive Land Use Plan which, in his opinion, requires more review before it is approved. See the relevant files and his concerns below
DeKalb County Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2050
Comprehensive Land Use Plan Resolution
Agenda Items (July 12)
"This
document should get a lot of review and comment from the public, particularly
our ITP neighborhoods represented by CAN.
The most notable
section is the creation of a new extensive “Walkable Neighborhood” Character
Area which, if you review the map on p 42, encompasses much of D2, D3 and
D4. To me, it is problematic because it suggests disrupting current
stable patterns of development with the introduction of more mixed use and
higher density housing without a strong foundation of infrastructure, including
street grid, bike/pedestrian , and public amenities necessary to support the
evolution they prescribe for the Character Area.
Note also the
zoning table, which eliminates R-100 as a compatible zoning classification and
suggests new uses more extensively distributed throughout the new “Walkable
Neighborhood” areas.
As you know, our
stakeholders intensively negotiate new urban development serving our
neighborhoods to insure the density, diversity of use and development design
actually perform as advertised. In my opinion, this site based focus
would be diluted under the new Character Area, and we would be faced with a lot
of new proposals that better match a builder’s proforma rather than the
community’s needs. I believe that diffusing development through our
neighborhoods would also reduce the market imperative to plan and execute truly
urban projects replacing obsolete commercial districts as was accomplished at North
DeKalb Mall.
In any event,
stakeholders need to dissect this draft and weigh in before it goes to
DCA. Once approved by them, there will be resistance to further
amendment.
I hope you can
get this out and alert our neighbors that they should speak up at the public
hearing on July 12 and ask for more review.
I’ve attached the
plan, and will follow with the public hearing agenda item and other supporting
documentation for circulation to CAN and others. Let me know if you have
questions."
Jeff Rader
Commissioner,
District 2
DeKalb County
jrader@dekalbcountyga.gov