Chick-fil-A is the Hot Topic; Free Tickets, Community Service Day

Sketch from Chick-fil-A representatives at DHA meeting 

Last night's Dunwoody Homeowners' Association meeting was the liveliest that I've attended in my time on the board.  The hot topic was Chick-fil-A's interest in placing a store at the location of the old Blockbuster/UPS at the intersection of Dunwoody Club Dr. and Mt. Vernon Rd.  Representatives from Chick-fil-A were on hand to give a short presentation.

Seemingly everyone I've spoken to would like to see a Chick-fil-A store at that location.  Even many of the nearby neighbors are gung-ho.  The problem is, that shopping center is zoned NS (neighborhood shopping) and a drive-thru is not permitted.  Also, there are questions as to whether a drive-thru restaurant fits within the confines of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

So if most everyone wants a Chick-fil-A, but current zoning won't allow a drive-thru, what can be done?  What shouldn't be done is allow the shopping center to be rezoned commercial (Bob Lundsten - our zoning guru - if I'm getting this wrong, please correct me).  Once it is zoned commercial, it opens up Pandora's Box to a whole lot of establishments in that location that we probably don't want (see Tilly Mill Rd. east as it crosses from Dunwoody into Doraville.  Can you say unsightly?).

One solution might be changing NS to allow for a drive-thru.  Is this a good idea (Bob, you tell me)?  I don't know, but it seems to be worth exploring.  Of course if it is possible to change NS to allow a drive-thru, does it fit the CLUP?  



Fran Millar

Whether it fits the CLUP or not, this shopping center has become a wasteland of an eyesore, as State Senator-elect Fran Millar pointed out at last night's meeting.  Not only is the Blockbuster now vacant (UPS is still in business), but of course the Ace Hardware has been empty for the better part of four years.  And if we didn't want Goodwill at that shopping center (remember a year or so ago it wanted to move in, but the community put the kibosh on it), and we won't allow Chick-fil-A, then what?
One question Bob Lundsten asked last night was, if this wasn't Chick-fil-A but instead, say Krystal, do we feel the same way?  Would we still be interested in making the same push to change what is presently allowable?  Please respond to the poll in the upper left hand corner - let us know how you feel. 

Kroger Renovation

Not only were representatives from Chick-fil-A at last night's meeting, but so too were Kroger folks, pitching its complete overhaul of the Georgetown store.  Kroger is not only planning to increase its size from 48,000 to 70,000 square feet (taking over the old Tuesday Morning), but a top-to-bottom renovation of the interior, including skylights.  

Kroger also plans a complete renovation of the unsightly parking lot, adding much more desirable landscaping (actually, any landscaping will be a big improvement).  Kroger has made formal application to the city for nine variances.      

By the way, among those in attendance at last night's meeting - Dunwoody City Councilmen John Heneghan and Robert Wittenstein.  Also there, the two candidates in the runoff for the DeKalb County School Board, District 1 position - incumbent Jim Redovian and Nancy Jester as well as Dunwoody resident Michael Rothenberg, who's in a runoff for DeKalb Superior Court Judge.

Free Tickets to Motivational Seminar

There is a motivation seminar tomorrow at Philips Area featuring Bill O'Reilly, Laura Bush, Sarah Palin and Terry Bradshaw.  If you are interested in a free ticket, send me an email at bobfiscella@kw.com.  For more information, click on Seize The Day.

Community Service Day

This past Saturday was Community Service Day in Dunwoody.  According to Bill Tobin, chairman of the city's volunteer coordinating committee, approximately 1,000 volunteers took part in everything from de-littering the side of roads (that's my Knights of Columbus crew in the photo to the left, looking like prisoners as we picked trash from the intersection of I-285 and North Peachtree Rd.) to sprucing up Brook Run Park to painting fire hydrants.  A big pat on the back to North Atlanta Church of Christ on Roberts Dr. and Dunwoody Baptist for their help!




Don't Forget to Fall Back

 

The following is the agenda for Sunday night's Dunwoody Homeowners' Association meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night at the North DeKalb Arts Center (next to the library). 

Welcome Board Members and Visitors

Announcements

1. Approval of Minutes – for October 3, 2010 Regular Board Meet

2. Zoning and related issues

    a. Georgetown Kroger- Coro Realty

    b. Chick-fil-A @ Mt. Vernon and Dunwoody Club

3. Community Affairs

    a. Candidate Forum October 26 review

    b. Light Up Dunwoody 2010 update

    c. Chamber’s Dunwoody Music Festival review

    d. Code Enforcement update

4. Messages & Updates from President

    Membership mailing

5. Board only discussion:

    Votes as needed on any motions

6. Adjourn

The two items that I feel will be of most interest are the presentation/discussion on the plans to put a Chick-fil-A at the site of the old Blockbuster/UPS at the intersection of Dunwoody Club Forest and Mt. Vernon, as well as the renovation of Georgetown Kroger.  As always, the DHA meetings are open to the public.



Dunwoody Real Estate; The Library; City News

The Branches

While this continues to be a trying time for homeowners to sell property (and an unbelievable time for first-time home buyers to purchase, as well as those moving-up to bigger homes), it is especially trying for Dunwoody homeowners.  Currently, there are only five Dunwoody single family homes in the 30338 zip code that are under contract; compare this with 163 active listings.  The good news is that in the past 30 days, 21 homes have sold.

The active listings range in price from $1,568,000 to $179,900.  To view any of these listings, in descending order, click on the Buyer Short Report below.  To view an easy-to-read list of all active listings, click on the CMA Buyer link. 

Buyer Short Report
CMA Buyer

Want to know how much that home down the street just sold for? Email me at bobfiscella@kw.com and I'll be happy to place you on a Gateway that will track all the activity in your neighborhood (a new item on the near right-hand column).  I've also included a link to the page on my website that will give you give you a daily look at home listings in Dunwoody, broken down by price range.  If you know of anyone buying or selling a home, please call me at 404.644.5220 or email me at bobfiscella@kw.com and I'll be happy to provide them with exceptional service.

Library Appreciation Day

This Saturday the Friends of the Dunwoody Library will celebrate "Library Appreciation Day" from 10am - 3pm.  Activities include a children's treasure hunt at 1:15pm, children's story telling at 1:45pm and a car show from 12:30pm-2:30pm.  The Friends of the Dunwoody Library donate to the branch, on average, $60,000 per year.

City of Dunwoody News

The City of Dunwoody will honor local military men and women in a Veteran’s Day ceremony held at Brook Run Park on November 11 at 3:00 p.m. The city is paying homage to all those who have served or are currently serving in all branches of the United States Military.  The event will be hosted by Dunwoody Councilman and retired Marine, Gen. Denis Shortal. Several speakers have been invited to participate including retired Army Sgt. Maj. Ray Jones and veteran Army 1st Lt. Robert Hopkins. Special musical performances will be provided by Greg McLean, Associate Professor of Music and Michael McClary, Assistant Professor of Music from Georgia Perimeter College.  The event is open to the public.  For more information, click here.

Dunwoody City Council release its agenda for this coming Monday night's meeting.  For more information go to Councilman Heneghan's Dunwoody North site.

DCPC Meeting; Chestnut Book Fair; Mark Rudder

DCPC Meeting

24 hours after election day, with Nancy Jester and Jim Redovian set to square off in a runoff for the DeKalb County School, District 1 seat, I attended the Dunwoody Chamblee Parents' Council meeting at Dunwoody Elementary School with interim superintendent Ramona Tyson as the featured speaker.  I was under the assumption that Ms. Tyson was going to concentrate her time on redistricting.  And while she did touch on the subject during the time I was there (Ms. Tyson showed up late and I had to leave early), she said it was way too soon to talk specifics.  For a terrific recap of the meeting, go to DunwoodySchoolDaze.
Regardless of which candidate you supported in District 1, a bigger issue is the District 7 runoff where the woefully ineffective Zapora Roberts faces off against impressive challenger Donna Elder.  There are interesting comments worth reading on DeKalbSchoolWatch.  A change in this seat could make a major difference in the success of the board.
Back to the DCPC meeting, among those in attendance was Nancy Jester, who says she looks forward to the next 4 weeks, as well as state senator-elect Fran Millar and state representative-elect Tom Taylor.  Congrats to both on their Tuesday night wins!

Chestnut Book Fair

I made a quick run over to Chesnut Charter Elementary Wednesday afternoon to help move stock a few books for their book fair, which starts Thursday and continues through next Wednesday.  For more information on the book fair and this evening's Family Dinner Night click here.

Mark Rudder Wins Ironman


Mark Rudder

Congrats to Dunwoody's Mark Rudder, who recently finished 2nd in his age group (45-49) in the brutial Xterra World Championships (1.5L swim / 30K bike / 10K run) in Maui.  The man is an amazing athlete whose training schedule is nothing short of maniacal!  He's like the Army (as its slogan used to read) "we do more before 9am than most do all day."  Mark - thanks for putting Springfield on the map!



Discounted Falcons Tickets

Want to attend a Falcons game this season, but don't want to pay full price?  Click on the photo below to check out a great offer from Groupon.

School Board Race Headed to Runoff



Nancy Jester

This is probably the last thing that candidates Jim Redovian and Nancy Jester wanted to hear.  That their hotly-contested race for DeKalb County School Board, District One is headed to a runoff, which means four more weeks of campaigning.  The runoff is November 30.  This race was as close as it gets.  According to the DeKalb County election website, Jester got 45.8 percent to Redovian's 44.5.  Bobbe Gillis picked up the remaining 9.4 percent - it will be interesting to see where she throws her support (although I'm not one to put a whole lot of stock in endorsements from 3rd-place candidates). 
Interesting to note that of the other 4 incumbents running for DeKalb school board positions, three won outright with the 4th leading in her race.  The latter being the temperamental, some say might say incompetent, Zapora Roberts, who is headed to a runoff.  Roberts got 37 percent of the vote, her closest opponent 30 percent.  Usually when an incumbent can't get 40 percent, their chances of winning the runoff diminish greatly.  This is fabulous news.

The two other local races of interest saw Fran Miller handily defeat Eric Christ for the state senate seat being vacated by Dan Weber.  Former Dunwoody councilman Tom Taylor easily beat Keith Kaylor to win Miller's seat in the state house.  One other race of note, State Representative Jill Chambers, a longtime thorn in the side of Dunwoody, lost her reelection campaign.  Jill - don't let the door hit you on the way out!

I was happy to see the amendment to add a $10 tag fee for trauma care expansion fail (52-47).  While I'm not against trauma care, I'm not a big fan of a disguised tax increase.  Great to see the DeKalb County Homestead freeze pass by a 3-1 margin; ditto for the Dunwoody homestead freeze (with all due respect to councilman Wittenstein).  Again, less taxes are good!

Election Day

With the city of Dunwoody's new branding taken into consideration - "Smart people - Smart city" - I thought the above "vote" pin would be most appropriate!  Today is election day - don't forget to get out and vote.  The only way to have any say in how your hard earned money - tax dollars - are spend, is by voting! 

The most hotly contested local race is that for DeKalb County School Board, District 1.  Incumbent Jim Redovian appears to be in a neck-and-neck race with Nancy Jester.   Jim sent me the email below yesterday as he tires to hold onto the seat he has held for the past 4 years.

Bob,



Jim Redovian

I find it interesting that my opponent is so set on a comprehensive and direct approach to redistrict questions except when it might cost her some votes. She calls for competent and experienced board members, and her only experience is to work inside one schoolhouse. She has never had children higher than elementary school and has only began to attend any meetings at the district level in the last five months - that does not spell experience. When asked a yes or no answer on supporting a possible move of the magnets after both Ms. Gillis and myself answered yes, her (answer) was maybe, and now that it would be popular to say no for the Chamblee, Kitridge parents she has changed to no. I have never pushed for such a move, however if within the redistricting plan it is proven that such a move would be the best and most fiscally responsible solution I would have to leave the door open even if it would cost me the election. This is a large System with many problems, nothing should be off the table.
My job as expressed by Georgia law is to serve the whole system.
Jim

I am not endorsing either candidate, as I believe each has a passion to do what is best for our children.  I'm not concerned with the winner of this race having a positive impact on the board.  I do have concerns with many of the other board members, 4 of whom are up for re-election today.  It's too bad we only get to vote for one of the board positions!   

DeKalb Schools Have Tuesday Off




My Halloween costume:   a grumpy old man answering the door!

Hope you had a happy Halloween.  As we move into November, a reminder that Tuesday is not only election day, but DeKalb County Schools have the day off, as many voting precincts are in the schools.  I'm not sure how it worked when I was in school, but I know I didn't get the day off, and I remember elections taking place in the school building while we were attending classes.  I don't recall it being much of a distraction.

The Calm Before The Storm; City News

This weekend is the calm before the storm that is the November 2 elections, which is this Tuesday.  Being somewhat of a political junkie, I not only love keeping up with the local races, but the national races as well.  One of my favorite websites is realclearpolitics.com.  Real Clear Politics takes all the polling and averages them out to give a general idea as to how all gubernatorial, senate and house races are leaning.  And its map pages (like the one below) are fascinating.

At present, RCP has the governor's race in Georgia leaning Republican.  The average of the four polls RCP uses has Nathan Deal (R) with 48.3%, to Roy Barnes (D) at 39.7%.  RCP lists the senate race in Georgia as safely Republican, with Johnny Isakson (R) leading Michael Thurmond (D) 59.3 to 30.7

Dunwoody Open Houses for Parks & Green Space

The City of Dunwoody will host two Open House events for the Parks and Green Space Comprehensive Plan.  These Open House meetings will include an introduction of the planning team and Lose and Associates, the firm selected to aid the City in the completion of the Parks and Green Space Comprehensive Plan. The meetings will also include an explanation of the planning process, a summary of existing conditions, and information on future public participation opportunities.  For more information, click here.

City of Dunwoody Receives Golden Shoe Award

The City of Dunwoody is honored to receive a 2010 Golden Shoe Award from the Pedestrians Educating Drivers on Safety (PEDS) organization in recognition of efforts to make Dunwoody a pedestrian friendly City. This is the first Golden Shoe Award for Dunwoody and a strong acknowledgement of its dedication to all pedestrian safety and accessibility issues. The City will officially receive the award in a ceremony held on November 10 at Georgia State University.  For the full story, click here.

Branding Change; Chick-fil-A; School Board Race

Notice anything different about the City of Dunwoody's new brand?  Less than a week after the brand was unveiled, it has undergone a change (apparently for most residents - at least according to my informal poll - it hasn't changed enough).  The tag line "Smart people - Smart place" has been replaced by "Smart people - Smart city."  The reason for the change?  The City of Plano, Texas already had the rights to the "Smart people - Smart place" line, so Dunwoody was either had to make an adjustment or face a potential legal battle (wonder why Sky Design, the company hired by the city to come up with the brand, wasn't aware of this?  Will Sky be refunding part of its reported $50,000 plus fee).
For more on why Sky and city officials chose this as the brand, read the news release by clicking here (and when you do, you'll be greeted by the city's new website design).

Chick-fil-A Meeting

I was unable to attend the Chick-fil-A pre-submittal meeting last night at Dunwoody Community Church.  Folks that did attend tell me it was more of an informal gathering than a meeting.  Ever-present Councilman John Heneghan did make the meeting, and has much more on his blogsite including a site plan.

School Board Race

Jim Redovian

Someone who has worked very closely with the DeKalb County School Board in the past says Dunwoody should be very concerned if Jim Redovian is not re-elected to the board.  This person tells me that while Redovian should have been more proactive in oversight of superintendent Crawford Lewis, having a Dunwoody resident on the board has been a major plus for schools in our city.  He says don't underestimate what Jim did in getting Dunwoody Elementary School built, as well as for his role in the renovation of Dunwoody High School.  He says the Dunwoody schools got a lot more attention because of Jim's commitment to his home base.

Nancy Jester

Meantime, challenger Nancy Jester, who is in a neck-and-neck battle with Redovian for the seat, read my recap of Tuesday night's DHA candidate forum, and had this to say in response.

"Given the limited time we had to publicly address the various issues, I would like to give you some additional insight into my thoughts about redistricting. The process in the past was flawed and was not based on well-designed demographic studies or proper forecasting methods. Redistricting is never easy but given the flawed process that the community was faced with, I understand the reaction. I think the more important point is to ask why the system was "not in a position to redistrict right", as Mr. Redovian stated. The bureaucrats and BOE failed the communities in this regard. We need new, competent and motivated Board leadership to bring about reform."

To read the Nancy's full response, click here.

Chick-fil-A; Dunwoody Village, Councilman Wittenstein

It is a busy evening in the City of Dunwoody.  There is a pre-submittal community meeting at 6:30 pm at Dunwoody Community Church, located at 2250 Dunwoody Club Drive.  The purpose of the meeting is to present the plans for rezoning of the old Blockbuster site located at the southwest intersection of Dunwoody Club Drive and Mt. Vernon Road to allow for a proposed Chick-fil-A restaurant.  Informal polls indicate that neighbors like the idea of a Chick-fil-A, however does the addition of another drive-thru restaurant fit with the developing Comprehensive Plan?  The meeting should last about an hour. 

Dunwoody Village Meeting


Dunwoody Village

The city will be hosting the second of four community meetings to discuss the Dunwoody Village area at 7:00 p.m. at Dunwoody Baptist Church in the Chapel, which is located at 1445 Mount Vernon Road.  If this meeting is as interactive as the first one - it is definitely worth your time to attend.

The meeting is part of the development of a Master Plan for the Dunwoody Village area, which will provide a framework to guide land use, transportation, and open space improvements over the next 10-20 years. At this meeting, participants will interact in small groups to discuss land use, transportation, parking, open space, and pedestrian circulation. Your input is needed!
For more information, please visit the City’s website at www.dunwoodyga.gov and click on “Dunwoody Village” under quick links.

Update from Councilman Wittenstein

Robert Wittenstein

Dear Dunwoody Friends and Neighbors,

There is one Dunwoody city item on the November 2 ballot and I’d like to encourage you to vote NO on it. The item is as follows:

City of Dunwoody Homestead Exemption

"Shall the Act be approved which amends the homestead exemption from City of Dunwoody ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the base year assessed value of such homestead by eliminating the automatic sunset so that the exemption continues indefinitely?" H.B. 1319 Act 562

This item is well-meaning, but in my opinion, misguided. If passed, it will set up the Dunwoody tax code so that new residents pay more taxes than long-time residents.  (click here to read the entire letter from the councilman).

Trunk N Treat

Even the nasty weather couldn't stop St. Luke's Church from holding its annual Trunkin' Treat (kids Trick or Treat out of the trunk of parents cars) on Wednesday evening.  The party was moved inside, and the kids never missed a beat!   Congrats again to Catherine Anne Thomas and Laura Singley on another job well done.