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.
Wingo Street Cottages proposal now before the DDA.
George Banks of Paladin Properties proposes to pay up to $640,000 for the four historic cottages listed in The National Registry, with $600,000 ear-marked to the city to reimburse the city's original purchase price of $591,000 The city council gave the DDA an option on the property. The DDA plans to use the anticipated $40,000 profit to assist its way-finding signage program, but residents wonder who cares about signs when all the trees and historic houses are gone? Assuming the lower figure offer of $600,000 against $591,000 the city paid for the four houses, the profit could be only $9,000 before attorney fees and closing costs. Mr. Banks "promises" to incorporate two of the cottages into his design for building 14 "single-person" detached cottages with lofts in the California Mission style on the 1.6 acres. The other two historic cottages would be demolished and most of the 100-year tree canopy would be lost. The present land use plan in this area calls for medium density, but this higher density will most certainly impact the Wingo- Rakestraw-Academy Street neighborhood. Banks' offer is predicated on rezoning to RM-10. DDA Chair Rob Buck has designated Member Skip Nau to meet privately with Banks and draft a contract for presentation to the city council.
MetroPCS, Georgia, Inc. proposed fee simple cell tower.
Juxtaposed to the historic district, the 195-foot high multi-tenant monopole tower would be located behind Domino's Pizza at Buford Highway and Beaver Ruin Road on property owned by Ed Simmons whose accounting firm, Simmons and Jamieson, is the former city auditor. First presented before the Planning and Zoning Board at the February 15 meeting, Special Use Permit Application SUP 05 01 was remanded to the DDA for a Certificate of Appropriateness and further study. In the meeting with the DDA with their own hired court-reporter, MetroPCS offered height concessions and a monopole. The DDA turned down COA 05-04 by vote of 5/1. At the June P & Z Board meeting, attorneys for MetroPCS, Inc. presented the original proposal for the 195-foot in height pole and no concessions. The application was turned down. The issue now moves to the city council in the July 25 work session and the August 1, 2005 city council meeting.
Multi-use 8-foot in width bicycle path proposed along N. Peachtree Street to Norcross High School as envisioned in the 2001 LCI Study.
With Save Historic Norcross and other concerned citizens speaking against this project at the June city council meeting and subsequent council policy/work session, the mayor, council, and Gwinnett County DOT officials indicated they would consider directing available DOT funding toward improvements on Holcomb Bridge Road instead of disturbing the N. Peachtree streetscape.
The Jain Temple on S. Peachtree Street.
With several citizens expressing concern about the height of the proposed dome, DDA in its June meeting approved surface treatments for the proposed temple expansion. The dome structure will be subject to future review under a separate COA.
Proposed retail strip on Reps Miller Road next to the Race Track.
Some Wingate condo owners have expressed concern about increasing traffic congestion in their neighborhood. As P&Z Board has approved the plans on June 21,2005, the developers will now go before the mayor and council.
