City Council Approves Legislation Establishing Building, Rezoning Moratorium Near Westside Park
The Atlanta City Council approved legislation Monday establishing a building and rezoning moratorium near Westside Park (Legislative Reference №20-O-1181). The ordinance is aimed at assessing how development trends are impacting neighborhoods near the park, which will be Atlanta’s largest greenspace once completed. The legislation, introduced by District 9 Council member Dustin Hillis, carves out certain exemptions, including for applications from owner-occupied, single family residents on existing lots, emergency situations, projects meeting certain affordability thresholds, and applications already received by the Department of City Planning.
The Council also approved an update to regulations for shareable mobility devices (Legislative Reference №20-O-1174). The ordinance revises the permitting process for devices, expands safety requirements, improves compliance guidelines, and sets standards for company-led educations efforts.
Legislation was also approved to authorize a $50,000 donation from the District 3 consulting and professional account to develop a participatory budget project in the district (Legislative Reference №20-O-1180). The project creates a Community Engagement Task Force to help connect residents to civic engagement opportunities and city resources. Approved by District 3 residents in October 2019, the project is part of a participatory budget pilot program that aims to give residents more say in how City funds are spent.
Additional items approved Monday include:
• An ordinance to authorize the Department of Public Works to install honorary street name signs in remembrance of former Council member Ivory Lee Young Jr. along Griffin Street NW at each intersection between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Jefferson Street NW (Legislative Reference №20-O-1029).
• A resolution authorizing the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority on behalf of the Stadium Neighborhoods Community Trust Fund Committee to award grants in a total amount not to exceed $1.04 million to fund various community service projects to benefit the Atlanta neighborhoods of Mechanicsville, Peoplestown, Pittsburgh, Summerhill and Grant Park (Legislative Reference №20-R-3424).
• A resolution strongly urging railroad company CSX to consider the future needs of the city of Atlanta, the Atlanta BeltLine, and the surrounding community as they begin the process for the sale of Hulsey Yard (Legislative Reference №20-R-3427).
• A resolution authorizing the mayor or her designee, on behalf of the City of Atlanta Police Department, to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Georgia State University for the purpose of providing food services for employees during the NCAA Basketball Final Four Tournament (Legislative Reference №20-R-3430).
The Council also immediately approved:
• A resolution opposing Georgia House Bill 937, which requires local governments to regulate building products and construction practices consistent with the code and standards approved by the state of Georgia.
Council members introduced several items for consideration in committee meetings next week, including:
• An ordinance to open the city’s 12 outdoor swimming pools to all residents at no charge during all operating hours for summer 2020 and to amend the Fiscal Year 2020 Department of Parks and Recreation general fund budget in an amount of $60,000 for transfer from non-departmental funds.
Members of the Council presented proclamations in recognition of the Day of Religious Pluralism 2020 and in honor of DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox, Meredith Y. Lilly, Eva Nason, and Tai Roberson.
