Past Projects

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Project Implementation

Ball Ground
 
 
The Coalition facilitated a day-long planning charrette for stakeholders in the City of Ball Ground. The charrette and subsequent planning provided an opportunity to improve a town center planning effort that may serve as a model for other communities facing similar growth pressures. Ball Ground is currently implementing a smart growth development code and master plan. July 2007
Briarcliff / North Druid Hills
After six months of discussion and the participation of many area stakeholders, urban planner Alex Garvin provided recommendations for the redevelopment of the area around the busy intersection of Briarcliff and North Druid Hills roads. The recommendations are contained in his report, A New Public Realm for DeKalb County. The Coalition facilitated the meetings and planning process that produced the report. April 2007 – September 2007
Cherokee County
A public forum led by the Coalition addressed growth and development myths and facts as they relate to Cherokee County and how Cherokee relates to the region; introduced smart growth principles; and fostered dialogue between the expert panelists and community stakeholders at a time when major development was proposed for the county. December 2006
Cobb County Acrobat IconView Team PDF
A team of professionals assembled by the Coalition studied the potential for mixed-use and higher density land use in District 1 of Cobb County. The study, which concluded that high density development in District 1 would be premature, sparked discussion on how to improve connectivity in and around activity centers. It also helped the county’s Department of Transportation gain approval to pursue an update to the County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan to address connectivity issues. February 2007 - May 2007
Covington
The City of Covington and its partners hope to implement Covington’s Livable Centers Initiative Plan. The Coalition is developing relationships with key owners of land suitable for quality growth redevelopment and to prepare them to be participants in the plan’s implementation. August 2006

Policy

DeKalb County
The Coalition worked with DeKalb County over 2009 and 2010 to study workforce housing in the County, resulting in a set of detailed recommendations on how to preserve and incentivize the construction of workforce housing in strategic areas (such as near transit).  The report is comprehensive, covering how workforce housing in the context of transportation, regulation, and County programs and administration.  The report also includes a helpful chapter on best practices related to workforce housing tools and programs.

Project Implementation

DeKalb County
DeKalb County’s Economic Development Department wants to see transit-oriented development on MARTA’s Kensington rail station property, an effort that would yield high-density, mixed-use and transportation-efficient development at a key regional location. The MARTA board of directors has agreed to request proposals for redevelopment of the Kensington station property as soon as a tax allocation district (TAD) – needed to pay for the parking deck that is anticipated – is approved for the site by DeKalb’s school board. The Coalition commissioned a study on the effectiveness of TADs in Georgia. March 2006 – Present
Ft. McPherson
With closure of Ft. McPherson Army base providing an opportunity for appropriate infill smart growth redevelopment adjacent to two MARTA stations, Coalition staff served on the Ft. McPherson Redevelopment Authority Healthy Community advisory committee to help guide redevelopment, including the incorporation of housing and services for the homeless and formerly homeless, greenspace, and employment opportunities. November 2006 – October 2007
Henry County
Working closely with the Henry Council for Quality Growth, the Coalition introduced county commissioners and municipal officials in Henry to smart growth principles and, through two bus tours, showed examples of new smart growth communities in the region. It also critiqued the county’s newly revised, progressive comprehensive plan for growth and development, a plan later approved by the county. March 2007 – September 2007
Old Fourth Ward
The Coalition conducted a workshop to help with planners and consultants to help integrate sustainability into the City of Atlanta’s comprehensive plan for the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. The Coalition helped to design and facilitate the workshop. April 2008
Roswell
Coalition staff assisted the City of Roswell with a charrette, including 10 stakeholder meetings and two presentations on the charrette process and its link to smart growth principles. The charrette bolstered efforts to concentrate smart growth development in its historic core. January-February 2007
Sandy Springs
Asked by the City of Sandy Springs asked the Coalition to review key planning and development documents, the Coalition checked for consistency with smart growth principles and effectiveness in protecting existing development and promoting smart new growth. The Coalition’s findings reinforced the city’s desire for human scale development, increased height allowances with ground-level open space, and emphasis on street alignment. March 2006 - July 2006