Dunwoody OKs blueprint for its future

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Two years into its existence, Dunwoody has an outline of the city it wants to become.

The City Council signed off Monday on an 81-page blueprint for its future development, presenting a picture of "gateway areas" created through special architecture and transportation development.

The plan calls for development of three major gateway areas: Georgetown, Dunwoody Village and Perimeter Center. Each area would be designed to give visitors a "distinct sense of arrival" to a setting that combines residential, commercial and entertainment elements.

The borders of these areas would be marked by land-use changes such as green space.

About 80 percent of the areas are composed of single-family homes, so the major focus has been on the commercial portion, said Mike Tuller, Dunwoody Community Development director.

"We tried to treat each separate and apart from one another in its own unique design," Tuller said. "The land-use decisions really were done by DeKalb County over the past 20-30 years that we've now inherited. Now, we're taking a second look at those areas."

The plan for DeKalb, Tuller said, did not provide the detail necessary to give residents a clear picture of their community's future.

"Now, with the newly elected City Council, we're having that voice, and the population in Dunwoody is having a greater say in land use and development changes over time," he said.

The comprehensive plan also lists three smaller "character areas" that would be shaped into distinct settlements: Tilly Mill, Winters Chapel and North Chase.

Overall, the document offers a vision of preserving the quality of life in Dunwoody through:

-- Historical designation designed to save, restore and promote heritage properties

-- Continued high-quality development of the Perimeter business area designed to promote the economic engine of the city while enhancing convenience to products and services for citizens

-- Conservative, conscientious redevelopment of other commercial spaces designed to enhance the quality of life of residential neighborhoods

-- Development of a variety of living options designed for all stages of life and ability

-- Increased connectivity and enhanced transportation options -- including bicycle, pedestrian and alternative forms of transportation, expanded functional green space, and park ownership designed to improve the vitality and recreational enjoyment of the city’s businesses and residents

The comprehensive plan for 2030 now will be forwarded to the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for review. Comments from those agencies will be attached to the plan when it is returned to the city for final adoption.

In the meantime, the city will be developing more specific plans for Georgetown and Dunwoody Village. These master plans, where land-use changes are considered, should be completed by the early part of 2011, Tuller said.