Winter 2010 Issue of Fern Creek Crier Now Available On-line

The latest issue has information about planning for the future of the North Druid Hills Community and membership for 2010. 

Work is being done under the supervision of DeKalb County to plan several important aspects of our neighborhood.  Commissioner Kathy Gannon led the efforts to get the Master Planning process for Kittredge Park underway.  Commissioner Jeff Rader facilitated the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) transportation/zoning study for the North Druid Hills Corridor that is currently in progress.

For more information on these topics, or for a copy of the membership form, download the latest Crier by clicking here.

Kittredge Park Clean-ups are Ongoing!!

Next Clean-up - Saturday February 20, 2010 - 10 am - 1 pm

Kittredge Park

How to get there: On North Druid Hills Rd, turn onto Kittredge Rd. at the traffic light to get behind Adams Stadium (across from Target and the car wash). Follow road to park entrance, beside the pool. There will be people or signs to direct you to the clean up areas inside the park. Pedestrians may enter the park from the Merry Hills neighborhood, but there is no parking available.

History: Did you know that there is a 33 acre park on North Druid Hills Rd? There is! And it needs us- the community volunteers- to make it truly serve our neighborhoods. The park is a mixture of family and environmental group grants. Dekalb County has earmarked funds to make the park more accessible to everyone, and we are making it a reality.

The Fall Crier's On-line Now!

You may have seen the signs posted in your neighborhood to check the website for the Winter edition of the Crier. 

Well, here it is! 

NDHRA Newsletter - Winter 2010

Re-write of Dekalb Zoning Code

Please see letter below Gene Schmidt (Zoning Chair Lavista Park Civic Association) regarding upcoming gatherings (open house format) to discuss rewrite of Dekalb County zoning code.   You can also visit the County's website for more information - http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/planning/zoningCode.html

Dear Community Members:

It seems hard for me to believe that its been 10 years since the 1999
Dekalb Zoning Ordinance replaced the 1985 version. The County has
compressed the schedule to rewrite the code to address obvious
disparities with the newer Comprehensive Land Use Plan as well as
ambiguities that need clarity to administer equitably. There is also a
new procedure being followed by the consultant Pond and Company. A
Zoning Task Force was established to include District representatives,
county department representatives, and others. I agreed to represent
Commission District 2 by appointment from Commissioner Rader.

The Task Force had its first meeting Nov. 20th, with introductions and
code concerns from the perspective of each representative. The first
round of public hearings begin on Dec. 4th at Mason Mill Center 1340-B
McConnell Drive from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The format will not include a
formal presentation, but will be an open house to listen to public
concerns throughout the evening. Additional dates allow for
flexibility, but will be the same format.

Code pages will be presented for Task Force review throughout the
winter, with the next round of public hearings scheduled for April 14,
16, and 21st. Presumably a first draft will be available for review at
that time. The first public hearing in front of the Planning
Commission will be July 22 2009 with revisions scheduled to follow.
The second public hearing at the Planning Commission is to be Aug.
26th, with the final Board of Commissioners adoption hearing on Sept.
22nd 2009. These of course are tentative and optimistic!

The County and consultants have established an interactive website
where they welcome your comments for inclusion in the process.  See http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/planning/zoningCode.html
or call 404-371-2155

As District 2 representative, I also would like to hear from zoning
professionals and neighborhood zoning representatives, of any code
issues that you have dealt with in the 1999 Ordinance that need
clarity or revision. This process is for Chapter 27 - ZONING of the
County Code , but will consider how to reference and coordinate with
other Chapters ( Historic, Subdivision, Signage, Code Enforcement,
Trees, etc.). I will pass any comments on to the consultants if you
have not done so directly.

Gene Schmidt
LaVista Park Civic Association
Zoning Coordinator

Join NDHRA or Renew
Your Membership

The 2008 membership period will run from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 and the Annual Meeting with officer elections will be in the Spring 2009. Please help us keep the association alive and strong by joining or renewing today.