Regional leaders lay plans to create affordable housing ► PAGE 4 M a r c h 2 0 , 2 0 2 5 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 4 , N o . 1 2
Sandy Springs releases limited payroll data, digs in on sharing remainder By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The City of Sandy Springs has begun releasing payroll information almost a year after denying Appen Media Group’s Open Records requests for the data. The reversal comes following months of petitions from the newspaper and interventions from the state Attorney General’s Office.
Appeals court overturns police records ruling ► SEE ON APPENMEDIA.COM
While the newly disclosed documents show the salaries of highranking officials, Sandy Springs continues to withhold information on the city’s remaining 600-odd employees. By releasing payroll records that
obscure an employee’s identity, taxpayers have no way to know who is receiving their money. Appen Media routinely requests payroll records for municipalities in its coverage areas, including Dunwoody and other cities in North Fulton and Forsyth County. The payroll data allows residents to see how many people their local governments are employing, who they are and how much they’re paid.
Sandy Springs is the only city Appen Media covers which has refused to turn over that information. Appen Media publisher Hans Appen said the notion that basic payroll information is not public information is absurd. “The taxpayers of Sandy Springs have a right to know who is on their payroll,” Appen said.
See RECORDS, Page 13
Residents share ideas on building aesthetics By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Sandy Springs Planning & Zoning Manager Michele McIntosh-Ross chats with residents March 13 about the current character of commercial areas and what they want them to look like moving forward. McIntosh-Ross said parks, schools and residential neighborhoods are excluded from the design guidelines, which look to shape the appearance and experience of Sandy Springs.
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sandy Springs is embarking on an 18-month review of commercial design guidelines to ensure six districts within the city reflect its priorities and aesthetics. Residents can provide their feedback with an online survey through March 31 if they were unable to attend the March 13 open house at City Hall. About two dozen residents showed up to peruse display boards asking them to identify what they would prefer to see buildings, streetscapes and signage look like in distinct areas of the city. Display board comments
generally supported contemporary building design, wide sidewalks with trees and shrubs, townhomes with a distinct design for each unit and limited wayfinding signage. Commercial districts in Sandy Springs, excluding City Springs, are hardly distinct from the rest of Metro Atlanta. One main purpose of creating design guidelines is to make different commercial areas distinct, with a uniquely Sandy Springs feel to them. The commercial areas include Greater City Springs around City Hall, Central Perimeter along the Dunwoody city limits, Crossroads at I-285,
See DESIGN, Page 12
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