LAST WEEK: WHAT SHOULD SANDY SPRINGS LOOK LIKE IN NEXT DECADE?
Sandy Springs city officials are embarking on an update of their comprehensive plan, a wide-ranging process they’ve dubbed “The Next Ten.” Mayor Rusty Paul touted both the tangible and the intangible, citing dozens of miles of streets and sidewalks paved and/or constructed , new parks and well-staffed police and fire departments replacing the scantier manpower Fulton County had allotted.
And don’t forget about the City Springs project literally rising out of the ground now, featuring a city hall and performing arts center as well as retail and residential development.
In the non brick-and-mortar category, city leaders talk of a heightened sense of community pride and involvement. A Jan. 27 meeting has been set for discussion of vision and goals, presentation of some preliminary ideas and analyses of economic development and transportation. A city workshop will follow.
We asked readers what they thought Sandy Springs should look like in the next decade.
Here are some responses:
The most important consideration is the addition of meaningful public transportation. Toronto’s network of streetcars get people where they need to go. Not so, with MARTA. We need low-cost, high-frequency transit options
— Mark Perloe
The most pressing issue in Sandy Springs is the class C apartments and the lies of the current administration about reducing this blight on Sandy Springs. We received flyers from candidates for mayor and council that said this was our number one problem…. they promised to tear them down just like the Gateway project…..we have only seen the Gateway project with its two nasty apartments and one other apartment duplex on Roswell Road come down.
— Another Comment
It is time that Sandy Springs take the schools from Fulton County and run them-successfully and with pride and achievement-as city schools. Come on, “leaders” of Sandy Springs. We, the hard-working, long-suffering, taxpaying and considerably burdened citizens of Sandy Springs-and our children-deserve this.
— NativeSandySpringer
Too many old, dumpy low-rent apartments for Sandy Springs to amount to anything long-term.
— PJ25
Mark Woolsey for the AJC
The McDonough City Council has considered two very controversial land purchases in the final two months of 2015. Both had citizens raising questions about proper use of taxpayer money as well as possible conflict of interest.
In early November the council approved by a 4-3 vote the $300,000 acquisition of property designated for the western expansion of Alexander Park. The land in question sits adjacent to a house owned by council member Gail Notti, who not only voted in favor of the purchase but did so two days after she lost her bid for re-election. The item was added to the agenda at the meeting, and two weeks later at the next meeting a number of citizens protested and asked the council for a reconsideration vote, which required a motion made by one of the original four who voted in favor. No such motion was made.
More recently the council scheduled a special called meeting for the morning of Dec. 30, with the only item of city business being another land purchase for possible park use. Some in the public questioned the need for the purchase as well as the scheduling of the special meeting since the council cancelled its regular meeting set for Dec. 21.
This piece of property reportedly sits next to the subdivision where council member Sandra Vincent resides. The meeting was the final opportunity for Notti to cast a vote since she left office at the end of the year.
What do you think? Is the city funding these projects in a responsible manner? Should a council member recuse himself or herself when owning property next door to land being considered for city purchase?
Send comments to communitynews@ajc.com. Your response may be published in one of our news formats.
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