NOTE - Any called meeting can occur upon 24 hours notice. Agenda is posted on the lobby bulletin board, but not always on City web site
Council meeting agendas can change, so the Public needs to monitor all meetings despite the upcoming holidays and Spring break vacations. The Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals denied a variance request (5-0) by the owner of 35 Williams Street property on February 28, 2008. The owner has the option to appeal the decision to Superior Court within 30 days.
Beginning as a grassroots campaign in December 2004, to save two 1890s houses from demolition from rapid-fire over-development, Save Historic Norcross finds itself involved in a crash course in urban planning, environmental issues, and city politics.
The group finds itself not only promoting historic preservation, but opposing the clear-cutting of 100-year-old tree canopies, pollution and/or obstruction of storm drain run-off, covering of flowing streams, and high density residential re-zonings in the 135 year-old- town with a historic district listed in The National Registry of Historic Places.
With the election of two new city council members in November 2005, times have changed somewhat from when the city had a pro-development council and city planner orchestrated by a small, but tightly organized special interest real estate group, Save Historic Norcross members find themselves in a daily challenge to educate the public. Besides our website, tools include yard signs alerting neighbors to Land Use issues, bumper stickers, pamphlet campaigns, festival booths, and neighbors going door- to- door, members attending and speaking at city council meetings and work sessions, planning and zoning meetings, DDA meetings and before Civic groups.
To enhance the overall quality of life in the City of Norcross by pro-actively preserving, protecting, and promoting unique, historic, and natural resources and informing citizens on issues affecting the cultural and economic well-being of the community.
Organizational Goals
Community Leadership. By working with the Mayor and Council and other stakeholder groups, we hope to make a contribution toward achieving a complete, fully defined community-minded implementation plan that reflects the findings of the council-approved 2001 LCI Guidelines.
Education and Communication. By educating citizens and business owners to greater appreciation for the business and cultural benefits of preservation that promote smart growth, we hope to contribute to the town's stability and revitalization.
Responsible Growth. By encouraging a growth plan that respects the rights and desires of property owners while preserving historic homes, buildings and architectural landscapes, we hope to impact in-fill and offer alternatives to demolition of historically contributing properties in the National Registry district.
2007 Action Plans and Projects to follow our Goals
Work with a Historical Society to collect and archive items for Museum.
Host a fun movie night in March: "Movies of Norcross" featuring the 1983 sci-fi movie "Mutant" filmed in Norcross, a time capsule that showcases a number of historic houses and a pre-Revitalization Main Street.
Explore Guided Walking Tours to be developed with DDA Promotions Committee/city staff, others, with donations going to a Museum fund.
Accomplishments
Our accomplishments, as a grass-roots effort, include:
Conducting series of community wide educational meetings in support of enacting a local historic preservation ordinance allowing a historic resource survey to begin.
Supporting City Council appointment of Architectural Review, Historic Preservation and Green Space boards, and development of downtown Master Plan.
Conducting on-going research comparing similar communities in support of maintaining quality of life by controlling density, adequately ensuring infrastructure upgrades to support present construction level.
A web site that is read often, with 3,000 hits in the first week.
Supported Historic Preservation Ordinance and urged careful certificate of appropriateness design reviews at DDA and City Council meetings.
Successfully promoted Land Use Plan that respects residential neighborhoods on South Peachtree Street fronting historic district from commercial encroachment and high density rezoning.
Published article on environmental issues on Sierra Club national website.
Supported concerned citizens in neighboring Chamblee with efforts to stop high density infill in historic Keswick Park.
Promoted preservation and protection of historic ball field as town centerpiece at council policy/work session June 13.
Met with National Registry officials to review updating historic district listing.
A yard sign campaign alerting citizens for Final Land Use Hearing before City Council June 6. The meeting was SRO with many citizens speaking out about issues.
Community Meetings and outreach:
Arts Festival Booth with drawing for authentic 2-dollar bills framing "Preservation Pays"
July 4th Festival Booth with displays showing lost and at risk historic properties. Sponsored "Preservation Pays" drawing.
"Facts and Myths about an Historic Preservation Ordinance" with guest speaker from city of Roswell held May 1st.
Car Show Festival booth, May 21st, with information on the proposed local ordinance and exhibits showing lost properties and current properties at risk.
Turnout for the 2/7/05 Cemetery St. rezoning was impressive - SRO standing room only! 1,000 Flyers distributed about the 2/7/05 Cemetery St. rezoning and 50 signs on different sites, most all are posted on private property.
Telephone and email lists created of those interested. (If you are interested, please e-mail us via this web site.)
Creation of a board of directors and officers.
Thank you! A gracious "thank you" to all of our readers, supporters, members and sponsors.
Norcross, Georgia
Founded 1870
The Only Historic District in Gwinnett County Listed in the United States Department of the Interior National Registry of Historic Landmarks.
Organized by citizens interested in promoting preservation awareness, Save Historic Norcross is a not-for-profit group that works pro-actively toward viable preservation solutions for endangered properties in the town's 4.2 square mile historic district.
With architectural styles spanning from the 1840s to the 1940s, Norcross is unique with intact contiguous residential neighborhoods radiating from the main street business district. The second oldest town in the county possesses a quality of life seldom found in today's modern bustle.
We have something of historic value that residents and visitors love: this sense of history and place that is irreplaceable and cannot be found in Gwinnett County, in Greater Atlanta or many other places. We must be cautious about rapid profit-oriented development. There is no need to develop a new and different downtown from what we have. We have kept our historic core, so we have choices that other cities such as Snellville, Suwanee, or Sugar Hill may not have.
For those who live here, we have DCD density projects already approved by the City Council which will cause disruptions for up to four years. Also, for those who live here, upcoming development without Impact Studies means the City of Norcross cannot ask the developer to contribute dollars for the added costs of new development, i.e., traffic lights, new water mains, new sewer pipes, improved pumping stations, and utility tie-ins to our antiquated systems. Your taxes are bound to increase.
Editorial Policy and Disclaimer
Signed letters and editorials are solely the opinion of the writer.
Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Save Historic Norcross Board.
Information presented is believed accurate but not warranted.
We reserve the right to edit letters to conform with standard editing practices or to decline publishing.
We are not responsible for content of sites either linked into or from our website.
