Kickoff Meetings
Thursday, July 17
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
St. Martin's Episcopal Church
3110 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., NE
Thursday, July 17
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Brookhaven City Hall
4362 Peachtree Rd.
Tuesday, July 19
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Briarwood Park Rec Center
2235 Briarwood Way NE
Tuesday, July 19
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Brookhaven City Hall
4362 Peachtree Rd.
Residents can now help shape the future of growth and development in Brookhaven.
The city is hosting four Character Area Kickoff meetings in July, educating citizens and accepting input about growth in Brookhaven.
When the city outlined its Comprehensive Plan 2034 last year, Brookhaven was broken down into 13 character areas. These are areas that share similar traits and can be developed in a coordinated manner.
Now, these meetings will give citizens a chance to add more detail and information to these character areas.
“This is the chance for the citizens to get involved,” Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “They’re going to help determine where growth is going to occur in their character areas.”
Basically, residents can be involved in the process and have a say in where growth can occur in their neighborhoods. If people don’t want an apartment complex in a certain area, that input will be accepted and considered in the character areas.
“So it’s really the way they can help protect their neighborhoods and be involved in the process,” Ernst said.
That’s the first purpose of the meetings – getting input. But there is also a valuable educational portion.
Citizens who attend the kickoff meetings will learn about developer lawsuits, property rights, property values, zoning and other hot topics. According to Ernst, this is elected official-level training and education, offered to citizens for free.
“This is the time for the people of Brookhaven to come out,” he said, “to be completely engaged in the community.”
There are four kickoff meetings available, and all offer the same information. At these initial meetings, residents can learn more about the process and sign up to attend charrettes, or interactive workshops, for their individual character areas where they live.
These workshops are where attendees can address their concerns and offer their input.
Ernst hopes for a good turnout so that the residents can actively participate in the future of Brookhaven.
“The best way governments work is you make a plan and you follow the plan,” he said.
About the Author
