Counties, cities plan response to floating homestead exemption ► PAGE 4
Januar y 23, 2025 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976
Former DeKalb CEO told EPA county would miss deadline for upgrading sewer capacity By DAN WHISENHUNT dan@appenmedia.com DECATUR, Ga. — DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond sent a letter to state and federal environmental officials Dec. 31, his last day in office, saying the county will miss a federal deadline to upgrade its sewer capacity. Missing it could cost the county millions in fines and perpetuate a public health risk for some of its most vulnerable residents. The Department of Justice has asked for a status conference to discuss the county’s “anticipated violation of the 2027 deadline.” Thurmond’s letter was addressed to the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the state Environmental Protection Division. He wrote that the county made “substantial progress” toward complying with a Modified Consent Decree requiring it to upgrade its sewer system by December 2027. The county’s progress so far includes completing projects and reducing sewer spills. But, he said, the county faced additional challenges. Inflation increased project costs, and Thurmond disagreed with a proposal for increasing sewage storage capacity in South DeKalb. The letter says the storage plan for South DeKalb raised “environmental justice” concerns. “It is my hope that the county will continue to work with EPA/EPD to reach an agreement on the best path forward for the county and its residents, recognizing the remarkable progress made since 2017 …,” Thurmond wrote. He told environmental
See UPGRADE, Page 12
CITY OF DUNWOODY/PROVIDED
Dunwoody residents chat outside of the former Lidl grocery store after a community rezoning meeting last summer at the Mount Vernon Shopping Center. The open house, at times contentious and emotional, kicked off Branch Properties’ successful effort to attract a wider range of tenants.
City Council expands list of uses at Mt. Vernon Shopping Center By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody City Council voted Jan. 13 to rezone the Mount Vernon Shopping Center, expanding the types of businesses allowed at the site. The zoning change, from neighborhood shopping, NS, to local commercial, C-1, involved a months-long process with community members, city staff and the owners, Branch Properties. There was no public comment during the second and final read to amend the zoning classification. The rezoning effort keeps all existing buildings with no new construction proposed. Branch Properties owns three parcels across the street from the Williamsburg at Dunwoody: 2480 and 2256 Mount Vernon Road and 2495 Jett Ferry
Road. Together the parcels make up the Mount Vernon Shopping Center, a triangle surrounded by Dunwoody Club Drive, Jett Ferry and Mount Vernon roads. Under the rezoning, Mount Vernon Shopping Center is allowed by right: a private club or lodge, cultural exhibit, restaurant, liquor store, indoor animal care facility, indoor sports or recreation and medical or dental laboratories. Any school or special-event facility is limited to 5,000 square feet. All uses in the neighborhood shopping classification are also allowed. There has been significant turnover of anchor tenants in the development’s largest storefront at 2480 Mount Vernon Road. The more than 36,000-square-foot retail space
See LIST, Page 13
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