Register Now for Fulton State of the County - One Week Away!
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Register today for the Fulton State of the County with Chairman Eaves
next Thursday, April 28th, at the Loudermilk Center. Chairman Eaves will discuss the County's future related to transportation decisions, financial growth, public safety and health and his vision for leading Fulton County forward.
"We have to be an efficient government with a strategic focus - - not because they are good buzzwords, or because they strike the right sounding chords with watchdog groups, but because we have an obligation to leave this better than we found it."
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Register Now for the Georgia Farm & Erosion Control Expo with Former Governor Roy Barnes
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Please join the Cobb County Soil and Water Conservation District and GSWCC on April 29, 2016 for a great recertification opportunity, in addition to an Erosion Control and Farm Exposition. To RSVP for this recertification opportunity, please contact the event coordinators at [email protected] or [email protected]
Join us for a free lunch and hear from Former Governor Roy Barnes as well as American Farm Bureau President, Zippy Duvall. Visit with vendors demonstration unique erosion control products and best management practices. Click the image below to register!
For further details on the Expo, please click HERE.
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April 22nd, 2016
What are Council Members saying about their investment in the Council for Quality Growth?
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Launching in May, the new & improved website will your single source for news and commentary about planning, zoning, and other local, regional, and state regulatory policies.
Council Members- Lookout for e-mails on how to create your unique log in. Not a Council Member and want to retain access to our news and updates? E-mail Amanda to join today!
UPCOMING EVENTS!
Contact
770-813-3381, for sponsorship information
.
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Council's Emerging Leaders Initiative Hosts Kimley Horn at First Industry Breakfast
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The Council's Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI) hosted its first industry breakfast on Wednesday, April 20th. Council member Kimley Horn sponsored the breakfast and provided a great overview of Kimley Horn's work in the region and the role engineering firms play in real estate development. Some of the major projects discussed included the firm's work on the new NCR facility, the Atlanta Beltline and Ponce City Market. Click HERE to view the full presentation
About ELI:
The Council has launched the Emerging Leaders Initiative that will Educate, Engage and Empower the Emerging Leaders within the Metro Atlanta area's growth and development industry. ELI members will participate in events lead by senior executives from engineering companies, developers, law firms, CIDs, utilities and other industry sectors. ELI will allow emerging leaders to expand their networks, plus knowledge of the development industry and regional policy issues. The Council wants ELI to equip our members with the depth and breadth of connections and information so that they are prepared to serve as the leaders of tomorrow. If you are a Council member and are interested in joining or learning more about ELI, click HERE.
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Council Hosts Cobb County Chairman, Tim Lee at Cobb Advisory
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On Wednesday, April 20th, the Council hosted Cobb County Commission Chairman Tim Lee at the Cobb Advisory.
Chairman Lee highlighted major accomplishments the County and Board of Commissioners lead last year including the Sun Trust Park project and the halo effect of economic growth, investment and opportunity spurred from that project. Since Chairman Lee has been in office, there has been more than $2 billion of new private investment in the County. Cobb County also earned a Triple AAA bond rating from each of the 3 major rating agencies for the 19th consecutive year. Chairman Lee noted that Cobb is one of fewer than 50 counties in United States to hold this prestigious rating. Chairman The County's SPLOST program has been extremely successful, allowing Cobb County to invest nealry $500 million in infrastructure improvements and additional county amenities. Lee also discussed the commitment the Board of Commissioners has maintained to improving public safety in the County, investing almost $200 million in public safety programs including resources for 80 additional officers in the County.
The Council thanks Chairman Tim Lee for his continued involvement with the Council and his commitment to supporting balanced growth and economic development and improving quality of life in Cobb County. Thank you to Council member PSI for their sponsorship of this meeting.
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AdvanceAtlanta Board Member, Joey Kline, featured in Saporta Report
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"To be a transit-enthusiast in metro Atlanta is a position often fraught with disappointment and frustration. It is certainly not for the faint of heart, nor those who are not prepared for a constant, uphill battle. However, from the point of view of this eternal optimist, the tide seems to be turning (as I continue to hold my breath, and furiously knock on wood)." Click HERE to read the full Op-Ed in the Saporta Report.
About AdvanceAtlanta:
The Coalition to Advance Atlanta is a citizen-driven grassroots coalition dedicated to building support for expanded regional transit and championing existing transit resources. Advance Atlanta brings together businesses, residents and other community partners to advocate for transit solutions that will improve Atlanta's ability to remain economically competitive. Click HERE to learn more.
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Kennesaw City Council Adopts New Form Based Code for Cherokee Street
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The City of Kennesaw has been working on a Form Based Code overlay district for Cherokee Street for over a year. After many revisions, the code was finally adopted by Mayor and City Council last month. The Council for Quality Growth provided input on earlier drafts that was incorporated into the final version. The Form Based Code will apply to properties along Cherokee Street in downtown Kennesaw from Cobb Parkway to Jules Road.
The Council commends Kennesaw Mayor and City Council and Community Development staff for adopting a balanced ordinance that will allow continued balanced growth and high quality development along this booming corridor.
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Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Adopts New Impact Fee Ordinance
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During a third public hearing on Thursday, April 7th, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt the proposed impact fees ordinance. The total impact fee for a single family home will be $3,641, a $991 increase from the current impact fee. This is significantly less than the $8,961 per home fee proposed last fall. The fees will go into effect June 1st, 2016. The Board also voted to not impose the new road impact fee on commercial development. At a work session this Tuesday, April 12th, the Board directed staff to work with the consultant, Duncan and Associates to break the commercial land use categories into multiple specific development types in order to consider charging commercial road impact fees later this year.
Click HERE to view the Impact Fee Ordinance adopted.
The Council for Quality Growth has been involved with this issue since the release of the first impact fee study draft in August last year.
Click
HERE
to read more about the original proposal. During the first public hearing on November 19th, James Touchton, Director of Policy and Government Affairs at the Council for Quality Growth addressed the Board of Commissioners to express concerns and request that the fees be recalculated to account for the $200 Million infrastructure bond and the recently announced $156 Million in matching funding from GDOT as well as the projected annual funding funding from House Bill 170 (State Transportation Funding Bill), totaling $75 Million per year, that will be used to construct prioritized transportation improvement projects in Forsyth County. The Board directed the consultant, Duncan and Associates to recalculate the fees with these considerations. While the revised study found that given this new State transportation funding no transportation impact fee was justified using the standard consumption calculation to fund transportation improvements at a 1 to 1 Level of Service (LOS) ratio, the consultant did, however, offer fee options calculated using a higher Level of Service (1.1, 1.2, and 1.3), stating that the methodology was not the industry standard, but would allow the County to collect a higher fee. The Impact Fee Advisory Committee voted 5 to 3 to recommend the fees be calculated with a 1.2 LOS ratio. The Board voted last night to approve the proposed impact fee ordinance using a 1.2 LOS ratio resulting in the fee schedule above.
Click
HERE
to view the revised Impact Fee Study.
The Council commends the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and Impact Fee Advisory Committee members on listening to stakeholder input and ensuring that the fees are reasonable in nature and based on sound financial calculations. The Council looks forward to continuing to work with the County on adopting land use policies that support balanced, quality growth.
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Sandy Springs Zoning Diagnostic and Code Re-Write Approach Available for Public Review
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On Tuesday, March 29th, at a special called work session, Sandy Springs Mayor and City Council reviewed the City's recently completed zoning code diagnostic report.
The report recommends moving the project plan review and zoning process out of City Hall, giving full authority to approve and deny projects to community development staff based on the zoning requirements. The report divides the City into three focus areas where different types of approaches will be applied: Protected Neighborhoods (shown in orange in the map to the right), evolving areas (shown in grey), and opportunity areas (shown in purple).
Ten overarching goals are identified for the zoning code update project: (1) create a zoning code that can effectively implement the comprehensive plan, (2) improve readability while retaining design standards for single-family districts, (3) identify "protected" neighborhoods that should not be subject to additional rezoning or variances that allow substandard lots, (4) establish design standards for all residential development, (5) set higher requirements transitioning zoning districts, (6) set consistent development process expectations, (7) eliminate overlay zones, (8) create a separate Perimeter Center zoning district, (9) allow expedited review in targeted areas, and (10) eliminate outdated conditions of zoning. Theses goals were identified through extensive plan and code review ad stakeholder input from the Sandy Springs Zoning Advisory Committee, neighborhood representatives, business owners,the development community and Sandy Springs staff.
Click
HERE
to view the full presentation on the Zoning Code Diagnostic Report. The zoning code re-write initiative is being conducted parallel to the comprehensive plan update with expected adoption in Fall of 2017.
Click HERE to view the full Diagnostic Report
Find more information on the Zoning Diagnostic, Code Re-Write Initiative and Comprehensive Plan
HERE
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Council Seeks Summer Policy and Marketing Interns
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It is that time of year again when many undergraduate and graduate students are finalizing their spring semester schedules. The Council is currently seeking independent, dedicated individuals to serve in summer unpaid internships.
Policy Interns
Interns will be expected to research various public policy issues affecting the agency, write articles for newsletters and assist regular staff with formulating real public policies. Those seeking a bachelor's or master's degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Political Science or other Public Policy related areas of study will be most successful.
For a complete overview of the POLICY internship requirements click HERE or contact Chelsea Hagood at
[email protected]
Marketing Interns
Will work on a variety of projects that leverage and develop creativity and communication skills in a real world environment. Applicants studying Marketing, PR, English or related fields are preferred.
For a complete overview of the MARKETING internship requirements click HERE or contact Amanda Janaskie at
[email protected]
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Sign Up Today for Aerotropolis Atlanta CIDs Commercial and Industrial Real Estate Tours
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