About Brookhaven reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 20??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 2015)
COMMUNITY MARTA wants Brookhaven station to be ‘town center’ BYDYANABAGBY MARTA’s proposal of town-center-style development at Brookhaven/Oglethorpe station. City Council members respond ed with excitement—and a few con cerns—to the proposed Brookhaven/ Oglethorpe MARTA Station redevel opment at a Dec. 1 council presenta tion. Amanda Rhein, Senior Director of Transit Oriented Development and Real Estate at MARTA, reviewed the agency’s vision of a town-center-style station in the project, which was un veiled in September and slated to begin construction in 2017. Representatives from development partners The Inte gral Group and Transwestern Develop ment Company attended the meeting, but did not speak. “This is very exciting, a lot of years in the making,” said Mayor Rebecca Chase Williams. Rhein said the goal of MARTA’s plans for the Brookhaven/Oglethorpe station is to make it a destination sta tion and “create a vibrant street level experience” including a park, shops, of fices and also apartments and condos. A planned park from Peachtree Road to Apple Valley Road could be the “heart of the community, with retail on both sides,” Rhein said. There would be programming for the green spaces as well with an emphasis on creating a pe destrian friendly environment. Council members have discussed re locating Brookhaven City Hall to the site and there is even talk of possibly moving the Brookhaven library here. However, nothing is finalized at this point, Rhein said. The Brookhaven/Oglethorpe station area is about 15 acres. MARTA would be meeting with city officials to have the area rezoned to allow affordable senior living spaces, condominiums and apartments. There are also plans for 70,000 square-feet of retail space; 120,000 square-feet of office space; and a 150-room hotel as well as plenty of civic and public space, Rhein said. “I recently met with other mayors in the north suburbs and they are a little more negative about MARTA,” Williams said. “They were trying to say MARTA didn’t need to go through rezoning and contribute to property taxes.” “That is a common misconception we have been made aware of,” Rhein said. “We are fully subject to all local zoning and do that with the local juris dictions.” The MARTA land will not be taxable, she explained, but the improvements to the property will be taxable by the city. Whether or not MARTA will come to the city to ask for tax incentives is still be ing discussed, Rhe in said. One traffic calm ing measure MAR TA is proposing is a roundabout at the North Druid Hills and Apple Valley Road intersection, she added. Councilwoman Linley Jones raised concerns about parking and wanted as surance there would be adequate park ing for those who would drive to the MARTA station. There are about 560 parking spaces at the station and Rhe in said MARTA is looking to develop plans for shared parking with private uses. Councilman Bates Mattison said he had spoken with the president of Oglethorpe University, who told him that the distance between the school and the station is a problem for stu dents. “This last-mile connectivity is an important part with a campus such as Oglethorpe and a community like Brookhaven,” he said. Rhein agreed and mentioned MAR TA recently developed an agreement with Uber to help riders who didn’t want to wait for the bus or were un comfortable riding a bus to get to their final destinations. Flowerland park plan draws interest, but cost is still the question BI JOHN RUCK johnruch® reporternewspapers.net The current owners of the former Flow erland garden say they’re open to the idea on turning the area into a public park. But they and city officials are await ing a more specific plan and price tag. Architect Andrew Amor propos es restoring Flowerland, a gigan tic garden that once stood in what is now the D’Youville condominiums off Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, as a city park. He presented ambitious de sign ideas—including recreations of an early settlers’ homestead and a Na tive American village—to Brookhaven City Council last month. Amor recently presented the idea to the D’Youville Condominium Associ ation board of directors. “The board is keeping an open mind and is waiting to receive a specific pro posal from the city of Brookhaven be fore making any decisions on how to proceed,” said Adam Langer, the con do association’s president. The Flowerland presentations had no budget estimates and still don’t, Amor said. “I have no additional info on the costs of the visionary project,” he said. The idea has been well-received by local elected officials. But City Coun cilman Bates Mattison is among those saying that lack of a budget estimate remains a sticking point. “I loved the presentation that was given...I was really impressed by the thought and vision of that,” Mattison said. But, Mattison added, the city has a tight budget and planned parks im provements that will demand funds. “We’ve got a lot of things people want [in the parks],” he said. Celebrating 21 years in Brool rU^ from the original Chin Chin Brookhaven team 2009 Best Chinese-The Sunday Paper 2001-2002 Best Chinese by Atlanta Jewish Times readers 1998-2012 Best Chinese by Creative Loafing Mouth-watering Chin Chin spices things up.” -The Atlanta Journal Constitution “Most Memorable Meal” -Where Atlanta Magazine - 21/2 stars-Knife & Fork 6 | DEC. 11 — DEC.24,2015 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net Auditor: City policies generally good Internal Auditor William J. Mulcahy reported Dec. 1 on his findings of audits he’d conducted of city processes. Mulcahy ex amined the request for proposals process; the municipal court’s compliance with new laws; and several “weaknesses” previous ly found by other, external auditors, such as purchasing policies. The request for proposal process needs better vetting, he said. But he said contracts are approved by City Council, so this was not a major weakness. However, Mulcahy said he could not find any documents proving City Council ap proval for a human resources contract that was more than $50,000. Any contracts or pur chases over $50,000 must have council approval, he said. Having an audit committee with public input is also a good idea, he said. Mulcahy said the city overall is in good shape and is being a good steward of the taxpayers’ money. “You’re headed in the right direction,” he said. Council defers noise ordinance City Council on Dec. 1 agreed to defer a vote on a new noise ordinance until its Jan. 12 meeting. A new decibel-based ordinance has been in the works for months, but some local businesses and the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce expressed concerns about measurement standards. Councilman Bates Mattison said he wanted the opportunity conduct field tests with new decibel meters being used by the city. Police Chief Gary Yandura said noise complaints are fewer now that the weather is be coming colder and there are fewer outdoor live music events. BK BRIEFS
