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April 21 - 27, 2016 » Page 14A
Decatur Crossing Phase III proposed
The Atlanta Regional Commission reviewed and completed a preliminary regional review of the proposed third phase of the Decatur
Crossing development.
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
A third phase has been
proposed for the Decatur
Crossing development.
According to a notice
sent to DeKalb County
April 6 from the Atlanta
Regional Commission
(ARC), the ARC reviewed
and completed a
preliminary regional review
of the proposed project,
which was reviewed as a
Development of Regional
Impact (DRI).
The county sent the
proposal to the ARC for
review.
Phases I and II of
Decatur Crossing, a
mixed-use development,
are being constructed by
Fuqua Development at the
six-legged intersection of
Scott Boulevard, Medlock
Road, and North Decatur
Road. According to the
notice, Phase I consists
of multi-family residential
space with supporting
commercial and amenity
space. Phases II and III are
mixed-use developments.
“In total (Phases I, II
and III), this DRI consists
of approximately 94,293
square-feet of commercial
space; a 123,600-square-
foot self-storage facility;
14,118 square feet of office
space, 964 apartments,
and 102 senior affordable
apartments,” the notice
stated.
The review notice
stated that the planned
development of Phase
III triggered a DRI
review for the entire
site per the ARC’S DRI
rules. Each phase has
different ownership, with
one development firm
developing each site
separately, according to the
notice. The development is
projected to be constructed
in 2018.
In the preliminary
comment section of the
notice, the ARC stated that
the proposed development
is located in the “maturing
neighborhoods” area of the
region.
“Maturing
neighborhoods were
primarily developed
prior to 1970,” the ARC
stated. “These areas are
typically adjacent to the
region’s core and regional
employment corridors, and
combined they encompass
49 percent of the region’s
jobs and 18 percent of its
population.”
Recommended policies
for maturing neighborhoods
include:
• Improve safety and
quality of transit options
by providing alternatives
for end-of-trip facilities
(such as bicycle racks) and
sidewalks and/ or shelters
adjacent to bus stops;
• Identify and
remedy incidents of
“food deserts” within
neighborhoods, particularly
in traditionally underserved
neighborhoods and
schools;
• Promote mixed-use
where locally appropriate,
specifically in areas served
by existing or planned
transit; and
• Develop policies
and establish design
standards to ensure new
and infill development is
compatible with existing
neighborhoods.
The ARC said the
proposed project “appears
to manifest” a majority of
the policies for the area.
“In particular, the mix
of uses, along with the
site’s proximity to bus
transit, offers the potential
for residents to work and
shop on site and for visitors
to park once—or arrive
by bicycle or transit—
and conduct multiple
trips on foot,” the ARC
stated. “These conditions
can reduce or eliminate
dependency on cars for
internal site circulation and
also encourage visitors
to arrive via alternative
transportation modes.”
The ARC said the
proposed project should
promote a functional,
safe, clearly marked and
comfortable pedestrian
experience on all streets,
paths and parking lots
on the site, as well as
all connections from the
project to neighboring
uses.
“This is especially
important as uses at
opposite ends of the site
which are separated from
each other by surface
parking lots and main
site driveways,” the ARC
stated. “The development
team is also encouraged
to ensure that end-of-trip
facilities (bicycle racks,
etc.) are provided for transit
riding-residents and visitors
at key locations throughout
the site.”
The ARC concluded
that the proposed project
has the potential for
considerable impact on the
existing road network.
“The developer
and DeKalb County
should work together
to identify and prioritize
enhancements that will
mitigate the potential
impacts of this project in
the context of area-wide
growth,” the notice said.
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