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City of
Tucker
NOVEMBER HAPPENINGS
Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at Tucker
City Hall, 1975 Lakeside Pkwy., Ste. 350B, Tucker, GA 30084
• NOVEMBER 4
6:30 P.M.
Downtown Development
Authority
• NOVEMBER 5,
7 A.M.-7 P.M.
Election Day
•NOVEMBER 5, 7 P.M.
Zoning Board of Appeals
•NOVEMBER 11
City Hall closed in
observance of Veterans
Day
• NOVEMBER 12, 7 P.M.
City Council
NOVEMBER 16, 5 P.M.
Campfire & Cocktails
Kelley Cofer Park
4276 N. Park Drive
NOVEMBER 19, 7 P.M.
University of
Government Affairs
Tucker
NOVEMBER 21, 7 P.M.
Planning Commission
NOVEMBER 27, 7 P.M.
City Council
NOVEMBER 28-29
City Hall closed
in observance of
Thanksgiving
tuckerga.gov
TUCKER
Tucker City Council moves closer
to downtown density increases
By Cathy Cobbs
The Tucker City Council at its Oct. 15
meeting voted 5-2 on second reading to
approve a proposed change in density in
two downtown areas intended to encourage
economic development.
“There are several ways to address
housing issues and needs in Tucker,”
Community Development Director
Courtney Smith said during a presentation
to the council. “This text amendment starts
to address supply. Staff expects there will be
additional text amendments in the future to
address other elements.”
The amended ordinance would include
the following changes:
■ Increase the amount of permitted
multifamily density in the DT-2 and
DT-3 zoning districts from 24 units
per acre to 35 units per acre. Density
exceeding 35 units per acre would
require a special land use permit;
■ Reduce the minimum required
townhome width requirements from
20 feet to 18 feet;
■ Remove minimum building
heights in both zoning districts and
allow property owners/developers to
request additional building height in
DT-2 and DT-3 zoning districts with a
special land use permit.
Three members of the council — Virginia
Rece, Roger Orlando, and Cara Schroeder
— and Mayor Frank Auman — proposed the
text amendment, a somewhat unusual move
as most requests for text amendments are
driven by a proposed project or initiated by
city staff.
The measure was discussed at Tucker’s
September meeting, with some council
members saying it will offer incentives for
developers to build in the downtown area,
while others say it may drive up housing
prices.
At the October meeting, council
members asked City Attorney Ted Baggett
specific questions about implementing the
ordinance on previously approved building
permits.
Several speakers at the meeting spoke in
support of the density modifications, saying
that the process was well-conceived and
researched.
Others in opposition said that the influx
of multi-family housing may put a large
strain on a limited area that would overload
public schools and congest the downtown
area.
After a public hearing, Schroeder
proposed passage of the measure and Rece
seconded the motion. The sponsors of the
amendments each spoke in support of the
changes.
“I believe after this passes, we will have
developers who are going to be willing to
move the needle in the downtown area,”
Schroeder said.
Council members Vinh Nguyen and
Alexis Weaver said they had concerns with
the ordinance in that it didn’t include
several conditions that would include
workforce housing incentives and other
community enhancements.
“I’m just concerned that we didn’t go far
enough,” Nguyen said.
In other action, the council:
■ Field a public hearing on a special
land use permit that would allow for
the conversion of an office building to
multi-family housing at 4419 Cowan
Road. The planning commission on
Sept. 19 recommended the permit be
granted;
■ Approved on its consent agenda
revised expenditures for its newest
park, Tucker Town Green;
■ Field a public hearing regarding
modifications to an existing ordinance
to allow a place of worship at 6430
Lawrenceville Fiwy. The applicant
spoke in favor of ordinance, and
no attendees opposed it. The
council approved the first reading
unanimously;
■ Fieard from a dozen residents who
are opposed to the construction of 12
outdoor pickleball courts at the Tucker
Recreation Center. The proposal will
be discussed at a Nov. 7 public meeting
at the center, according to Auman.
14 | NOVEMBER 2024
ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM
