Brookhaven reviews future projects and initiatives in the 2019 City Council Advance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brookhaven City Centre, capital projects, demographics discussed

Brookhaven, GA, Feb. 18, 2019 – Brookhaven’s Mayor and City Council looked toward the future during its annual council advance on Feb. 16.  Topics included the 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Plan, Brookhaven City Centre & MARTA TOD 2.0 visioning presentation and demographics update.

Mayor John Ernst opened the Council Advance with a reminder of the many accomplishments the City has achieved since the beginning of 2016, including raising the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) from 60 to 70.43, completing watershed studies for Nancy Creek and North Fork Peachtree Creek, completing an overhaul of the zoning code, constructing seven miles of sidewalks and winning $11 million in state and federal grants.

“We’ve been getting the job done in terms of planning, paving, parks and police services.  We have accomplished this without a millage rate increase and with the same number of employees we had in 2016,” said Mayor Ernst.  “And to top it off, our finances have been reviewed and re-reviewed and we are one of only 8 cities in Georgia with a triple-A bond rating.”

The Council took a deep dive into the progress of Phase 1 of the Peachtree Creek Greenway (PCG), and the timelines of Phases 2 and 3.  While there is federal funding in the pipeline for Phase 2, there is no funding currently identified in Phase 3.  Councilmember John Park suggested the Administration focus on alternative funding sources.

“We need to explore funding opportunities to expedite Phase 2, and ultimately Phase 3 of the PCG,” said Councilmember Park. “It may be possible to transfer the Phase 2 federal funding to Phase 3, and come up with other revenue to get Phase 2 up and running.”

Brookhaven Economic Development Director Shirlynn Brownell made a visioning presentation of the Brookhaven City Centre which includes the MARTA Transit Oriented Development (MARTA 2.0) that encompasses the area to Colonial Drive all the way to Brookhaven Park. 

“This is an opportunity to define the cultural heart of the City.  This could be a gathering place for residents to enjoy and thrive, creating a true live/work/play community,” said District 3 Councilmember Bates Mattison. 

District 4 Councilmember Joe Gebbia added that adjoining areas would be a good fit for a Brookhaven City Centre and could be improved. 

"We should take a serious look at defining and evaluating the potential benefits of declaring the Apple Valley corridor an Arts and Entertainment Zone with a focus on the arts, our restaurants, and outdoor activities. It's accessible via MARTA, it's walkable and ties into and can be extended to include Dresden Drive," said Councilmember Gebbia.

Councilmember Linley Jones briefed the Mayor and Council about priorities and initiatives facing the north end of the City.

"District 1 is an oasis of single-family residential homes which must be protected from encroachment of commercial development,” said Councilmember Jones.  Jones also requested support for a continuous path from Ashford Dunwoody at I-285 to the Brookhaven MARTA station. She also called for various measures to preserve and improve Brookhaven's tree canopy.

"Trees accentuate livability and quality of life throughout our City,” said Jones.

Brookhaven’s Economic Development Director Shirlynn Brownell concluded the meeting with a look at changes in the City’s demographics.  Brownell reported that in the past five years, Brookhaven’s commercial property tax digest has grown more than 64 percent, and properties identified in the Buford Highway Redevelopment Plan have increased more than 54 percent in the same period.

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