AJC > NorthSide > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March
March 2007
There’s so much pollen that ….
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First of all, don’t get excited, but it’s raining in Alpharetta as I post this. The weatherman says it should not last, but it was enough to wash the pollen off the windshield, and it caused a yellow tint at Lake AJC Northside (pictured above), an unmarked body of water that forms only when it rains, in the parking lot outside the AJC Northside offices in Alpharetta. (Photo by Brian O’Shea/Staff)
I’m sick of pollen. I know you are, too. But it’s Friday before spring break, so here’s a statement for you to finish.
I think this is a Monty Python line: “The ceilings were so low (how low was it?) that the mice were stoop-shouldered!).
In the spirit of the mice, how much much pollen is out there in Atlanta now?
Surely you can top these two, suggested by a couple of office wags:
There is so much pollen that the Ohio State basketball team is changing its colors to yellow.
-or-
There is so much pollen that the Georgia Legislature just voted to rename the Chattahoochee. It’s now the Yellow River.
Your turn.
Permalink | Comments (66) | Post your comment | Categories: Milton
Townhall meeting Wednesday to focus on road projects
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker is conducting a townhall meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday to discuss road projects.
Bodker will talk about the proposed road widening of McGinnis Ferry, intersection improvements at different points on Medlock Bridge and on Jones Bridge roads, and about repaving projects.
Newly hired City Manager John Kachmar will be available for questions for the first time as well.
The townhall will be at the Chattahoochee High School auditorium at 5230 Taylor Road.
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Is Roswell ready to go vertical?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UPDATE, 4/7/07: Roswell Mayor Jere Wood is proposing a tax district to pay for improvements to Holcomb Bridge Road. See his letter in a related blog post.
Many suburban communities —- from Gwinnett to Cobb to Cherokee —- have considered live, work and play centers like Atlantic Station in Midtown. Charlie Brown, Atlantic Station’s developer, is planning a $2 billion mini-city that will be at Ga. 400 between Holcomb Bridge Road and the Chattahoochee River in Roswell. If approved by local, regional and state authorities, the Roswell East project could set the tone for future suburban development.
AJC graphic artist Jemal Brinson and staff writers Todd Duncan and Paul Kaplan took a detailed look at what Charlie Brown has in mind. Take a look at the images and the description, and then we’d like to hear from you. What do think about the concept of high-rise in the Roswell area, and what is your reaction to the Roswell East concept?
If you could talk to the city or the developer, what questions would you ask? We’ll take those questions and see if we can get some answers.
Permalink | Comments (38) | Post your comment | Categories: Hot topics
Should Sandy Springs rezone Roberts Drive?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Tuesday, Sandy Springs-based Lefko Group will ask the City Council to approve their plans to tear down three single-family homes on 3.2 acres along the south side of Roberts Drive and build 19 single-family homes in their place.
While the plan falls under the density required by the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan —which allows 8 to 12 residential units per acre in that area—many residents say its approval would signal a renege by the City Council on its promise to protect Sandy Springs’ neighborhoods.
Developers, looking to build in this growing North Fulton city, say the project’s denial would send a clear message that the land use plan is not always upheld and the rules of the game can change midway.
How do you think the city should vote?
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Johns Creek’s Pothole Posse
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The city of Johns Creek doesn’t mind stealing a good idea on occasion even when it comes from Atlanta.
Mayor Mike Bodker said he’s establishing a pothole posse, similar to the one that Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin established.
The city’s contractor, CH2M Hill-OMI, did a comprehensive survey of city streets soon after Johns Creek became a legal entity on Dec. 1, and then did a refresher survey in the past few weeks.
Based on that, city staff and the company plans to develop a priority list and to aggressively address the bone-jarring holes that pock the city’s roadways and byways. There’s about 130 potholes identified citywide, which would cost about $105,000 to fix.
Bodker has said he hopes to have them all repaired within a couple of months, and staff members are rejiggering the budget to find the money.
Stayed tuned…
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: Johns Creek
What’s worse - adult stores or karaoke bars?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
City governments have to pick their spots, it seems. Johns Creek is doing battle over adult video stores. Lilburn is cracking down on karaoke. Which worries you more?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Johns Creek
Should malls put restrictions on teens?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Arbor Place Mall in fast-growing Douglas County has a message for teenagers: If you want to hang out at the mall on Friday or Saturday night, you need to bring Mom or Dad.
The mall said Friday that shoppers, merchants and community leaders have grown “concerned with inappropriate behavior of unsupervised youth on weekend nights.”
As a result, beginning March 23, the mall will require that people younger than 18 be accompanied by a parent or guardian when they visit after 6 p.m. on Friday or Saturday.
A question: Do you think the malls in Northside should have restrictions on unaccompanied teens?
Permalink | Comments (50) | Categories: Johns Creek
Johns Creek backs sales tax for schools
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Johns Creek City Council is supporting a proposed Fulton County School District one percent sales tax to pay for new schools and related projects.
“Schools are the backbone of our community and keeping them strong benefits our entire city. [The sales tax] has actually helped to lower our property taxes,” City Council Member Liz Hausmann said in a prepared statement. “The cost of school construction does not rest solely on Fulton County property taxpayers with [sales tax].”
Hausmann is a former school board member, and headed a City Council committee to study whether the city should back the sales tax. The council recently approved a resolution backing the sales tax, called a Special Local Option Sales Tax.
Voters will go to the polls on March 20 to decide whether to extend the sales tax for another five years. The money would be used for additional classroom space and technology, which would allow general funds to be used in classrooms.
In Johns Creek, the sales tax revenues would pay for improvements at each elementary, middle and high school as well as a new $60 million-plus high school. According to Fulton County Schools, more than 20,000 new students enrolled over the past 10 years, and an additional 19,000 students are expected by 2012.
Voters first approved the sales tax for schools in 1997 and then extended it in 2002. Over the last 10 years, almost $1 billion in revenue has been raised, with an estimated 40 percent coming from people who live outside of Fulton County.
Locally, sales tax money built Abbotts Hill Elementary School, Findley Oaks Elementary School, Ocee Elementary School, Wilson Creek Elementary School, Autrey Mill Middle School, River Trail Middle School and Northview High School.
“In a nutshell, [the sales tax] is fiscally responsible,” Hausmann said. “It’s a tax for a finite period of time and the funds must be spent on the items listed in the referendum.”
For more information, visit www.fultonschools.org
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Milton backs Fulton schools sales tax renewal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Milton City Council has endorsed renewing the Fulton County School District’s proposed one-percent sales tax to build and equip schools.
Mayor Joe Lockwood said the sales tax is preferable to property tax.
“I’m supportive of good schools,” he said. “I think that’s what makes where we live attractive, and this is a way to pay for needed schools and additions. Sales tax revenue doesn’t just come from our tax base. Lots of it comes from out of the county.”
Voters go to the polls March 20 to determine if the so-called the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, should be continued for another five years. The tax was first approved by voters in March 1997 and renewed in March 2002. It has raised almost $1 billion in revenue for capital improvements. About 40 percent of the tax is paid by people who live outside of Fulton County.
Sales tax money has paid for 29 new schools including four inside the City of Milton - Cogburn Woods and Summit Hill elementary schools, Hopewell Middle School and Milton High School. It has also financed additions at 18 other schools, including a science addition at Crabapple Middle School.
The new sales tax would pay for 14 new schools and classroom additions at 11 schools, as well as pay for technology updates, equipment and bus purchases, and debt relief.
For more information on the sales tax, visit the Fulton County Schools Web site at www.fultonschools.org.
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Lake Placid Drive Closed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sandy Springs drivers won’t have access to Lake Placid Drive, for the rest of the week, due to sewer repairs.
The popular cut-through street, just west of the 5700 block of Roswell Road and south of I-285, closed Monday afternoon and will remain closed for the next few days as Fulton County crews prepare to repair a sewer leak that damaged the road. Repair work will begin on Wednesday morning.
For more information, call City Hall at 770-730-5600, or go the city’s website.
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