The Council for Quality Growth met on Wednesday, June 9th, with Dunwoody Community Development staff and the City Manager, to discuss our concerns from the development industry with the current DRAFT of the Comprehensive Plan Update and Zoning Ordinance. We feel very encouraged after the meeting that the City will take all of our comments into consideration and appreciate the work that the staff has put into the plan.
In 2012, the City of Dunwoody began a rewrite of both the Zoning Ordinance and Land Development Ordinance. During this process, the city decided to conduct a separate project for the Perimeter Center, in addition to the overall rewrite. This area is a unique part of the city because it is quickly developing into a more urban center and, therefore, additional zoning requirements are necessary.
The new ordinance is being designed to promote and regulate redevelopment in the Perimeter Center, while also protecting the surrounding single-family neighborhoods. A team of consultants from Duncan Associates and Codametrics is working with the city on this project and has conducted a process allowing for a large amount of public input on the zoning drafts being written. This project emphasizes sustainable, walkable, and transit-oriented development options. The city has released drafts of the Perimeter Center Zoning Districts, which can be viewed HERE, and the Perimeter Center Zoning Overlay, which can be viewed HERE.
The draft of the Perimeter Center Zoning Districts splits the area into four separate districts. Each district is designated for a specific use with certain building height and type requirements. The PC-1 District is intended to be the central core of the area and allows for more intense building development and employment uses, but also allows for pedestrian mobility. The PC-2 District is mainly for employment uses, with some shopfront retail and services. The PC-3 District is a smaller scale commercial district with both shopfront and office building types. The PC-4 District is primarily residential and is meant to allow for a transition between the core Perimeter Center area and single-family neighborhoods. Each of these four districts is permitted to have certain building types that have unique regulations and match the district’s intended use. Open Space is a separate type of area with requirements that support the city’s objective to promote a healthy lifestyle and provide everyone access to a variety of open space types.
As the Shape Dunwoody planning process winds down, the City of Dunwoody invites you and fellow community members to an Open House event on June 30 to provide input on key elements of the Comprehensive Plan update and the action plan. Please save the space on your calendar and encourage your Dunwoody neighbors and colleagues to attend!
What: Shape Dunwoody Open House (final meeting of six plan-building workshops)
When: Tuesday, June 30 (6-8pm)
Where: Dunwoody City Hall, Council Chambers
Why: Review and provide input on key elements of the draft plan, including the five-year action plan for addressing community priorities and the future land use plan for the city. Speak with members of the planning team one-on-one and provide input prior to final plan revisions and City Council consideration of plan transmittal for regional/state review at the July 13 public hearing.