MARCH
2017
|
Citizen Response Center
770-730-5600
Answering calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the March 2017 edition of the Sandy Springs E-Newsletter, a publication that highlights news and events happening within the City. More information from City Hall can be found online at
sandyspringsga.gov. You can also telephone our Call Center 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 770-730-5600.
|
|
Community Input Sought for City's Development Code
The Sandy Springs City Council formally approved The Next Ten Comprehensive Land Use Plan during the February 21, 2017, Council meeting, following approval by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and Atlanta Regional Commission.
In providing notice of the GDCA's approval, Senior Planner John West commented that "The document Sandy Springs has produced is truly exceptional. It's demonstrative of a superlative commitment to excellence in our field."
As part of the Next Ten process, the City is making changes to its Development Code to support the planning priorities articulated in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The new Development Code will unify existing development regulations - zoning, subdivision and environmental standards - into a single, graphically-rich document that is easy to use and understand. The document will bring more predictability and certainty to the development approval process.
We want to hear your thoughts.
An Open House and Information meeting will be held on Monday, March 20, 2017, at City Hall. The Open House begins at 4:00 p.m. followed by the public meeting at 6:00 p.m. In addition, you can learn more about changes in your neighborhood at one of the following information district meetings. Visit
spr.gs/councildistricts to view a street-by-street map of the city districts.
DISTRICT 1 MEETING
Wednesday, March 29 at 6 p.m.
Davis Academy - Lower School Media Center
8105 Roberts Drive
DISTRICT 2 MEETING
Wednesday, March 22 at 6 p.m.
Sandy Springs City Hall - Council Chambers
7840 Roswell Road, Building 500
DISTRICT 3 MEETING
Wednesday, March 29 at 6 p.m.
SSUMC- Activity Center, Parlor Room
85 Mt Vernon Highway NW
DISTRICT 4 MEETING
Monday, March 27 at 6 p.m.
North Springs Charter High School - Media Center, 7447 Roswell Road
DISTRICT 5 MEETING
Wednesday, March 22 at 6 p.m.
Church of the Atonement
4959 High Point Road
DISTRICT 6 MEETING
Monday, March 27 at 6 p.m.
Holy Innocents School
805 Mt Vernon Highway
If you are not able to attend one of the above meetings, you can visit us at City Hall to learn more on Monday, April 3rd from 1 - 5 p.m.; Wednesday, April 5th from 8 a.m. - 12 noon or Friday, April 7th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Though walk-ins are welcome, you are encouraged to schedule an appointment to avoid waiting. You can make an appointment by emailing
pz@sandyspringsga.gov
.
|
|
Braving the Braves
The countdown is on for the opening of SunTrust Stadium in Cobb County. The first exhibition game for the Atlanta Braves is March 31, 2017, followed by its first official home game against the Padres on April 14, 2017. How will that venue and its events change your commute around Sandy Springs? The answer is that we don't know for sure. The City continues to work in collaboration with Cobb County and the Georgia Department of Transportation to develop traffic management plans which will provide for safe, efficient vehicular travel and minimize traffic impacts to nearby neighborhoods and businesses. As SunTrust opens and hosts events, the City will implement its "event" traffic management plan which includes added staff in our Traffic Management Center to monitor and implement real-time changes as well as increased presence by Sandy Springs Police to help with traffic flow. Additional details can be found on the City's website at
www.sandyspringsga.gov/braves
|
|
Transform 285/400
Construction is underway by the Georgia Department of Transportation for Transform 285/400. The project adds new flyover ramps, collector-distributor lanes and other facilities to aid east-west travel along I-285 and north-south travel along GA 400. The current phase includes the replacement of the Mt. Vernon Bridge. Detours, lane changes and closures are needed. To stay up to date with the construction schedule and potential impacts, bookmark the City's Road Work Advisory page (
www.sandyspringsga.gov/roadwork)
, which contains information about all known lane and road closures within the city limits. We also encourage you to sign up for Sandy Springs Alerts
where you can opt-in to receive a weekly traffic advisory, emergency traffic alerts as well as public safety emergency notifications. Don't be the last to know.
|
This Month's News from Recreation and Parks
|
|
Summer Camp Registration Begins March 6
Spring break is just around the corner and before you know it, the school year will be over! Now's the time to start thinking about summer plans and Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks' has lots of programming options to make for happy campers! To learn more and to register, click
here
or call
770-730-5600
.
|
|
Look at the stars at Morgan Falls Overlook Park!
Join fellow stargazers at Morgan Falls Overlook Park ! Bring binoculars or your own telescope, if you have them and join the Atlanta Astronomy Club to look at the moon, visible planets and other heavenly objects. Try out a variety of telescopes and talk to amateur knowledgeable astronomers about the night sky.
Friday, March 3, 2017, 7:30-10 p.m.
Location: Morgan Falls Overlook Park
Instructor: Atlanta Astronomy Club
Min/Max Participants: 10/75
|
|
Discover Nature Classes at Lost Corner Preserve for Children Ages 4-9
Children can celebrate spring spending time outdoors and learning about a variety of nature topics through exploration and hands on learning experiences. Sandy Springs Recreation and Parks is offering Discover Nature Classes that will include a hike, investigation and games. Nature classes meet twice monthly March-May and will be offered on Saturdays. Attend the entire series of monthly classes or choose your favorite topics. Make sure to dress for the weather.
Saturday, March 11 & 18, April 8 & 15, May 6 & 13
Ages 4-6, 10-10:45 a.m.
Ages 7-9, 11-11:45 a.m.
Instructor: Daniel Kerber, Naturalist
Location: Lost Corner Preserve
Min/Max Participants: 6/20
Cost: $5/class or $25 entire series of 6
|
|
Lost Corner Preserve Bird Walk
Join Atlanta Audubon Society for a family friendly guided bird walk along the trail at Lost Corner Preserve and learn about the top 10 species of birds in Atlanta. Binoculars will be available to borrow. Children 16 and under must be accompanied by adult.
Saturday, March 25, 2017 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Instructor: Atlanta Audubon Society
Location: Lost Corner Preserve
Min/Max
Participants: 6/20
|
|
7th Annual STEAM Showcase
Sandy Springs Education Force invites adults and kids of all ages to their 7th Annual STEAM Showcase featuring more than 40 next-generation, interactive, hands-on exhibits in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)! This year's event is at
North Springs Charter High School on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 from 6-8 p.m. Learn about SSEF's STEAM education initiatives in Sandy Springs' 11 public schools, and network with community, education, business and government leaders and explore how STEAM fields are changing our world, what careers exist in these industries now, and what's likely to be hot in the future. Don't miss this award-winning, family-friendly, FREE event!
|
|
Volunteer for a Better Sandy Springs
Volunteer For A Better Sandy Springs Day (VBSS) is the flagship community-wide service day for Sandy Springs! Now in its 15th year, VBSS has provided materials and volunteer hours worth more than $600,000 in citywide improvements. This year's work sites include:
- Abernathy Arts
- Big Trees
- CAC
- Crooked Creek
- Dorothy Benson Center
- Dunwoody Springs Elementary
- Hammond Park
- Heards Ferry Elementary
- Heritage SS
- High Point Elementary
- Keep SS Beautiful
- Lake Forest Elementary
- Lost Corner
- North Springs High
- Ridgeview Charter
- SS Library
- SS Middle School
- SS Tennis Cdenter
- Watershed Alliance
- Woodland Elementary
Date: Saturday, April 22, 2017
Time: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
VBSS takes place rain or shine!
For more information, please contact
vbss@leadershipsandysprings.org
.
|
|
Fulton Golden Games: April 26-May 31, 2017
For more than 20 years, the Fulton Golden Games have helped mature adults stay physically active and socially engaged. Regular physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle and is linked to a wide array of physical and mental health benefits. The Fulton Golden Games attracts more than 500 adults age 50 years and older who participate in athletic and recreational events including hiking, running, bowling, and much more. Meals are provided at most of the events, and an awards luncheon is featured at the end of the month, with medals and prizes.
The Golden Games registration fee is $20* per person and enables you to participate in as many of the Olympic-style events and activities as you would like (*additional fees apply for some athletic tournaments.)
Register by March 23 for a chance to win a $50 gift card! The registration application is available at the Hammond Park Gym located at 705 Hammond Drive 30328, the Dorothy Benson Senior Multipurpose Center located at 6500 Mt. Vernon Woods 30328 or you can click here to download the application.
The City's Recreation and Parks Department is offering to assist anyone interested in training for the Golden Games events. Please call the Recreation and Parks office at 770-730-5600 to discuss training and event registration.
|
|
Titles @ Twilight Continues Featuring Suffragette Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas
Come to Heritage Sandy Springs on
the first Tuesday evening of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for Titles @ Twilight which promotes local authors, whose stories of history and the South represent a variety of topics from early aviation in Georgia to the memoirs of Jerry Lee Lewis' child bride and cousin. On
March 7:
"Suffer and Grow Strong: The Life of Ella Gertrude Clanton Thomas," written by Carolyn Curry, the Founder and Director of Women Alone Together, a non-profit that works to build confidence and community among the growing number of women who are alone in our culture because of death, divorce, separation, estrangement, or being single by choice.
Her book details how the Civil War and its aftermath affected this woman exposing her to poverty, illness and family strife. Titles @ Twilight is free to attend and takes place in the Garden Room at the Williams-Payne House, 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs, GA.
|
|
History Lectures and Open House at Lost Corner Preserve
Join local historian Clarke Otten at Lost Corner Preserve and learn about the history of Sandy Springs.The lecture series is presented by Friends of Lost Corner (FOLC) and will take place on the
fourth Wednesday evening of the month through May at
7:30-8:30 pm.
March 22: Oak Grove (Sandy Springs) to the Civil WaR 1861-1865
April 26: Post-war Reconstruction to Bedroom Community 1870-1960
May 24: Roads, Churches and Schools, Milestones of Community Development 1820-1960
Friends of Lost Corner will also present a
Secret History of Lost Corner
lecture followed by an Open House
:
Sundays, March 5 & April 2, 2017
3-4:00 pm - Secret History of Lost Corner Lecture
Learn the history of this unique property and about the previous owners and how they helped to shape the Sandy Springs area.
4-5:00 pm - Open House
Visit with members of the Friends of Lost Corner organization and tour the early 20th century farmhouse complete with charming architectural touches inside including a large gas fireplace with built-in benches and detailed leaded glass windows.
For more information: 770-730-5600
Cost: $5 suggested donation to FOLC
|
|
Get Your Tax Returns Prepared for Free at CAC
Let the Community Assistance Center help file tax returns and ensure maximum refunds and proper filing. Their team of trained and certified VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteers are available to help filers earning up to $55,000 in 2016. Appointments are available now! CAC is one of many metro area VITA sites, an initiative of the IRS and the United Way. Call (770) 552-4889 Ext. 221 for an appointment or contact
VITA@ourcac.org
.
|
|
Rhythm and Brews is Back!
This year's event will feature a full day's line up of original artists whose music is deeply rooted in the South, along with exposure to area brewers. Rhythm & Brews not only celebrates the sips and sounds of the region, but also presents an opportunity for audiences, both young and young at heart, to kick back and relax in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Rhythm & Brews tickets are available at:
www.freshtix.com/events/rhythm-and-brews-17
|
|
Save The Date:
It's time to eat, drink and party with a purpose. The second annual "Food That Rocks, a Celebration of Sandy Springs" is set for
Saturday, May 6 from 6:30 - 11 p.m. at Hammond Park. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the
Food That Rocks website.
|
Neighborhood Contact Update
so we can keep you updated on city related projects and activities.
|
We Celebrate New Businesses, New Locations, and Anniversaries
|
|
|
Ribbon Cutting at Somerby
Mayor Paul, Councilman Sterling along with members of the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber of Commerce helped the cut the ribbon welcoming Somerby to the City.
Somerby, a new luxury retirement community, provides independent living, assisted living and memory care.
|
|
The Zoning Corner
Community Meetings
|
Case #
|
Type
|
Address
|
Applicant
|
Request
|
District
|
Staff
|
|
RZ16-0103
|
RZ
|
1170 Hightower Trail
|
Lefko
|
Rezoning from R-2 to C-1 of an existing single-family structure for use as an office
|
2; Dishman
|
Louisa
|
|
RZ16-0090
|
RZ
|
8765, 8800, and 8877 Roswell Road and 0 Dunwoody Place (North River Shopping Center)
|
SRPF A/North River LLC
Agent: Carl Westmoreland & Jessica Hill
|
To rezone from C-1 to C-1 to change zoning conditions on the existing development and develop a proposed grocery store with concurrent variances
|
2; Dishman
|
Catherine/
Alexandra
|
|
RZ16-0102
|
RZ
|
1000 Manorwood Ct
|
COSS / Darryl Moss
|
To rezone to allow lot dilineation and bringing resulting nonconformities into legal standing.
|
4; Sterling
|
Joshua
|
Amendments
|
Case #
|
Type
|
Request/Description of Amendment
|
Staff
|
|
TA17-0001
|
TA
|
Amendment to allow administrative withdrawal of variances and land use petitions after advertisement
|
Joe L / Catherine
|
|
TA17-0002
|
TA
|
Beautification, "The Mayor's Flowers"
|
Catherine
|
|
|
| |
|
