Community News: February 2018 Edition
Community News
February might be a short month, but its calendar is filling up with meetings and events. Stay in the know with the monthly newsletter.
Reminder: Business License Renewal
Business Occupational Tax Certificates (business licenses) must be renewed annually, with all business licenses expiring December 31 of each calendar year.  As a courtesy, the City offers a 90-day grace period to submit your renewal materials.
A business which fails to have a renewed business license after March 31is subject to a one-time 10 per cent penalty fee.  You can find more information by visiting the Business Regulations and Licensing page on the City's website.
CERT Re-certification
Sandy Springs Fire Rescue will host a recertification course for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) on March 10, 2018. CERT training prepares citizens to help their community and neighbors during a disaster or fire event. For more information visit the CERT page on the City's website.
Daddy Daughter Dance
Don't miss one of the year's biggest date nights! The 9th annual Daddy-Daughter Dance is scheduled for  Saturday, February 3, 2018, from 6-8 p.m. The event will be held at Spalding Drive Elementary School. The cost is $35/father-daughter and includes a keepsake photo; $10 each additional daughter.                  

Open House - Intersection Improvements for Northside Drive and Riverview Road at Old Powers Ferry Road
The City of Sandy Springs is hosting an open house to present design concepts under consideration to improve traffic efficiency at Northside Drive and Riverview Road. The Open House will be held Thursday, February 1, 2018 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at Holy Innocents' Episcopal School STEM Building.
Open House - Intersection Improvements at Dunwoody Club Drive and Jett Ferry Road
The cities of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody are hosting an Open House to present design concepts being considered to improve traffic efficiency at Dunwoody Club Drive and Jett Ferry Road. The Open House is scheduled for Thursday, February 8, 2018 5:30-7p.m. at Dunwoody Community Church at 2250 Dunwoody Club Drive.
Development Code and Zoning Map Updates
Informational meeting s will be held February 7 th  and 21 st , 2018. Public hearings will be held before Planning Commission on February 27 th and Mayor and Council on March 20 th , 2018. All meetings start at 6:00pm, at City Hall – 7840 Roswell Road, Building 500.
Documents will be available at  spr.gs/developmentcode.
Riverside Bluff Re-Forestation
The City, in partnership with Trees Atlanta, recently planted more than 200 native elm, oak, gum, and maple trees and shrubs at the Riverside Bluff. Riverside Bluff is located at the Riverside Drive/Johnson Ferry Road Intersection.
Arbor Day Celebration
The City s celebrating Arbor Day on Friday, February 23, 2018 by giving away tree saplings in addition to its traditional tree planting activities.
The activities take place beginning at 11 a.m. at the Abernathy Oak Trees, located at Abernathy Road and Wright Road (the entrance to the Whispering Pines neighborhood).  
Live Learn Lead
Public Discourse - Connecting Through Effective Communications is the topic of this year's Live Learn Lead event sponsored by Leadership SandySprings. The event takes place on Thursday, February 22, at Cox Enterprises. Networking and appetizers begin at 6 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m. The cost is $30 for LSS Alumni who are current donors and $35 for alumni and the general public. WSB TV News Anchor John Pruitt will moderate a panel discussion, featuring retired U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss ; Lee Rhyant, of Lockheed Martin; and Teya Ryan, of Georgia Public Broadcasting. For more information and to register, visit the Leadership Sandy Springs website .
Titles @ Twilight Returns to HSS
Heritage Sandy Springs is announcing its 2018 season for Titles @ Twilight. The yearlong program meets the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and features local authors, whose stories of the South represent a variety of topics from criminal law and family dysfunction to the Civil Rights Movement. The 2018 season kicks off Wednesday, February 7 with local criminal defense attorney turned author, Jason Sheffield.
For the complete schedule visit HSS' website.
Zoning Corner
Here's a list of the cases which will be presented at Community Meetings in February 2018. Meetings will be held at City Hall, except where noted. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our  interactive map and  public meetings calendar.
Board of Appeals – 2/13/18
CANCELLED for February 2018
*No cases at this time

Planning Commission Meeting – 2/27/18
RZ17-0004, The Cliftwood, 185 Cliftwood Drive
Rezoning to reflect existing conditions.

An Ordinance to amend the Development Code (“six-month update” ), including the Zoning Map
      
Community Meetings I & II
Community Meeting I - Development Code Update
2/7/18, 6-8pm, Sandy Springs City Hall

Community Meeting II - Development Code Update
2/21/18, 6-8pm, Sandy Springs City Hall

*Development Code Update - Draft documents, as they become available, will be posted on the City’s website at: spr.gs/developmentcode

Community Meeting II, RZ17-0004,
The Cliftwood, 185 Cliftwood Dr. 2/12/18, 6-7pm, Sandy Springs City Hall

Community Meeting I, U18-0001 ,
1025 Mt. Vernon Hwy
2/22/18, 6-7pm, Northwest Unitarian Congregation, 1025 Mt. Vernon Hwy     
City Council Meeting – 2/6/18
*No Planning and Zoning cases at this time


City Council Meeting – 2/20/18
  RZ17-0005, Parcel # 17 0078 LL0366,
 (24 The Landing)
Rezoning from RD-27 to RD-27 to modify the front setback.

U17-0003, 2250 Dunwoody Club Drive
 (Dunwoody Community Church)
Request to operate a private school in an existing
building (Dunwoody Community Church building).  

Other Important information and related dates - Sandy Springs receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)and is required to complete a Consolidated Plan every 5 years. Copies of the Consolidated Plan will be available for public review and comment between February 21, 2018 and March 21, 2018, at the following locations: The Sandy Springs Regional Library, 395 Mt. Vernon Hwy, NE, The Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Complex, 6500 Vernon Woods Dr., The Sandy Springs City Hall, 7840 Roswell Rd., and on the City’s website at spr.gs/cdbg with translation materials available by calling 770-730-5600.
Calendar Changes for 2018 - The Sandy Springs Board of Appeals and the Sandy Springs Planning Commission now meet on the 2 nd TUESDAY and the 4 th TUESDAY of each month, respectively. Please check the Public Meetings Calendar for monthly agendas.
This newsletter is prepared by the City of Sandy Springs. You can learn more about the City on our website at  sandyspringsga.gov. You can also telephone our Call Center 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 770-730-5600.