URBAN REDEVELOPMENT PLAN CHAMBLEE URA 2018 August 21, 2018 Last amended 5/21/19

Laura Linman

Table of Contents Introduction ...... 1 Boundaries of the URA ...... 1 Consistency with Adopted Plans ...... 1 Description of Urban Redevelopment Areas ...... 2 Photographic Evidence ...... 14 Land Use Objectives ...... 19 Plan Impacts ...... 19 Project Specifics ...... 20

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Introduction

This City of Chamblee Urban Redevelopment Plan (this “Plan”) shall constitute an Urban Redevelopment Plan for the City of Chamblee, (the “City of Chamblee” or “City”) within the meaning of the “Urban Redevelopment Law,” Title 36, Chapter 61 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, as amended. This Plan meets the requirements of O.C.G.A § 36-61- 2(24). This Plan conforms to the general plan for the City as a whole. In the case of four of the urban redevelopment areas, this Plan describes the City’s strategies and tactics for potential land acquisitions, demolitions, redevelopments, improvements, and rehabilitations as may be proposed in urban redevelopment areas. In the case of one of the urban redevelopment areas, this Plan describes the actual land acquisitions, demolitions, redevelopments, improvements, and rehabilitations. This Plan further considers zoning and planning changes, land use issues, maximum densities, building and development requirements, and the plan's relationship to City goals regarding suitable land uses, improved traffic and public transportation, the provision of public utilities, the creation or expansion of recreational and community facilities, and other public improvements in identified urban redevelopment areas.

Boundaries of the URA

The urban redevelopment area (the “URA”) is made up of multiple separate areas, each of which has been determined to be a “pocket of blight” (as defined in the Urban Redevelopment Law) and each of which displays the presence of conditions or a combination of factors that substantially impairs and arrests the sound growth of the City of Chamblee. For the purposes of this plan, these areas are identified as Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and are more fully defined below. Consistency with Adopted Plans

Th is Plan is consistent with the Chamblee Comprehensive Plan, as adopted in 2015. The Comprehensive Plan lists the following goals for the community: 1. Create a greater sense of community identity. 2. Support a thriving business environment. 3. Promote a healthy and safe living environment. 4. Develop and maintain strong multi-modal connections. 5. Provide quality government service through partnership and cooperation. This Plan will assist in pursuing redevelopment projects and partnerships that will support all of the above goals.

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The City of Chamblee has completed several other plans that are helpful in providing context for the redevelopment of the City. • Economic Development Strategic Plan – Adopted in 2016, the EDSP provides strategies to increase overall wealth, raise property values, and add jobs to Chamblee.

• Downtown Chamblee Livable Centers Initiative Plan – Adopted in 2001 and updated in 2007 and 2014, this plan was partially funded by the Regional Commission and has helped to link transportation planning and land use decisions to create more a walkable and urban center.

• Livable Centers Initiative Plan – Adopted in 2017, this plan was also funded by the Atlanta Regional Commission in partnership with the City of Doraville. The Buford Highway LCI Plan will assist in improving the transportation infrastructure adjacent to Buford Highway, and offers ideas on refining the built environment along the corridor.

Description of Urban Redevelopment Areas • URA 1 – Savoy Dr. o This area consists of a mix of commercial and residential properties along Savoy Drive and the frontage of Interstate 285. The area is approximately 136.19 acres and contains 120 parcels. The existing land uses are commercial businesses, multifamily homes, and single-family homes.

• URA 2 – Town Center o This area consists of warehouse, commercial, institutional, and vacant properties in the historic downtown core. City Hall, Chamblee Police Station, Chamblee Civic Center all feature prominently in this area. The area is approximately 56.33 acres and contains 47 parcels.

• URA 3 – Buford Highway/Chamblee Tucker o This area consists of commercial, residential, office, and institutional uses. The area is approximately 139.16 acres and contains 166 parcels. The area is dominated by Buford Highway and Chamblee Tucker Road,.

• URA 4 – Buford Highway/Dresden o This area consists of commercial, industrial, and residential uses and properties. The area is approximately 88.36 acres and contains 61 parcels. The City’s largest park, Dresden Park, is in this area

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• URA 5 – Shallowford Road o This area consists of commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential uses. The area is approximately 124.13 acres and contains 38 parcels. This area includes the Shallowford as well as Johnson Road.

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URA 1

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URA 2

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URA 3

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URA 4

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URA 5

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Negative conditions within the urban redevelopment areas The URA has future economic potential, however it has been determined to be a pocket of blight that contains: underutilized commercial land and structures; deteriorated or poorly maintained housing stock; obsolescent buildings or facilities; visual blight; substandard public infrastructure, including lack of sidewalks and pedestrian amenities, lighting, open space; inefficient street layout; and fragmented, inappropriate or commercially nonviable subdivision platting or lot layout; the high land to building value makes the properties located in the URA economically viable for redevelopment. In addition to the above, the URA includes many census block groups that have poverty rates above 20% in 2016, as shown below. URA 1

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URA 2

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URA 3

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URA 4 & 5

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Photographic Evidence URA 1

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URA 2

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URA 3

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URA 4

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URA 5

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Land Use Objectives • Types of Uses o Land uses in each of the URAs will be a mixture of commercial, residential, and mixed-use. The existing allowable land uses in the URAs are diverse enough to permit a wide range of commercial and residential uses (see Zoning Map and list of zones in Appendix A). • Building Requirements o The City of Chamblee will utilize the existing building requirements and life-safety regulations in the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). • Zoning Changes o Existing zoning classifications in the Chamblee UDO should be appropriate to drive redevelopment in each URA. If zoning changes are proposed to individual parcels, or as amendments the UDO, or Zoning Map, those changes will conform to O.C.G.A. Title 36 Chapter 66, known as “The Zoning Procedures Law.” • Development Densities o No changes to existing development densities currently allowed in the Chamblee UDO are proposed in this Plan (see zoning dimension table in Appendix A). • Description of Parcels to be Acquired. o The City does not anticipate acquiring any additional property at this time. In the future, the City or its designee may act to acquire one or more properties at which time this Plan will be amended.

Plan Impacts

Historic Preservation Considerations The City of Chamblee values its local history and heritage, and this Plan seeks to preserve as many historic structures and possible. No historic properties will be impacted by this Plan. Strategy for Relocating Displaced Residents The City has determined that the development of a relocation strategy is not necessary at this time. In the event displacement of residents becomes necessary at a later date, this Plan will be amended to incorporate a plan for relocating displaced residents in accordance with all local and state statutory requirements. Strategies for Access to Affordable Housing Revitalization efforts in the Urban Redevelopment Area will focus on promoting mixed-use development and redevelopment in Chamblee. The residential component of this development should promote a variety of housing types, including units available to low- and moderate-income residents.

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Covenants and Restrictions to be Placed on Properties No covenants or restrictions will be placed on properties at this time. Should circumstances arise where making use of covenants and restrictions becomes necessary, this Plan will be amended. Strategy for Leveraging Private Resources for Redevelopment The purpose of this Plan is to encourage private redevelopment to the greatest extent possible. Implementation of this Plan will focus on master planning efforts and funding mechanisms for necessary public infrastructure to attract increased private development. Public Infrastructure to be Provided The City will work to provide the public infrastructure necessary to promote private redevelopment in these areas. The City of Chamblee Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) will be a guide for transportation enhancements – including sidewalks and transit – improved lighting, streetscapes, public recreational space, and public parking in the URA. A copy of the Chamblee CIP is incorporated in this Plan in Appendix B.

Project Specifics

The City has completed the Downtown Chamblee Town Center Plan, a master plan for URA 2 (“URA 2 Plan”). The specifics of URA 2 Plan are set forth below:

o URA 2 contains three city-owned buildings: City Hall, Police Department, and the Civic Center. The police department will be moved to a new building in separate location to relinquish the current land for a future 26,000-28,000 City Hall. o The new City Hall will accommodate the services in the current Civic Center. Once the new City Hall is built the Civic Center will be demolished and temporarily used for surface parking until it can be assembled with nearby properties and sold to a private developer. o Broad Street is planned to be the central corridor and will be redeveloped with on- street parking, 10-foot sidewalks, and regraded to either have a curbless or rolled edge to allow for occasional pedestrian-only street closures for festivals. o The current City Hall building will be adapted for a new public use. o Once the new City Hall is built, a linear plaza/park space leading from the building to Broad Street will provide public space for placemaking and outdoor events. o The plan calls for the creation of an additional road on city-owned land to contribute to a new street-grid system and to provide access to the new City Hall. The City has completed a portion of the master plan for URA 4 (“URA 4 Plan”). The specifics of URA 4 Plan are set forth below:

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o URA 4 Plan comprises redevelopment of 4445 Buford Highway NE, Chamblee, GA 30341 (formerly known as the Jim Hearn Golf Center). This parcel of land (the “Hearn Property”) encompasses 17 acres of land purchased by the City in 2017. o The Hearn Property will serve as the location for a new 40,000-50,000 sf Public Safety Facility, inclusive of Chamblee Police Department headquarters, Municipal Court operations, and a publicly accessible Community Room. o The Hearn Property will also contain a secured access point for public safety personnel with roughly 70 parking spaces not accessible to the public. o The remaining acreage within the Hearn Property will be developed into a new recreational sports complex, inclusive of trails, regulation-sized rectangular athletic fields, mini-pitch “free play” areas, restrooms, concessions, bleachers, athletic lighting, a playground, dog park, and storage for maintenance equipment; a detention pond will be located on the property. o A public parking lot connecting the Public Safety Facility and park space will serve as joint parking for Public Safety Facility visitors and park attendees; this will also serve as overflow parking for the adjacent Dresden Park.

• Phase I – Master Planning The City of Chamblee will begin a series of master planning exercises to determine the appropriate levels of redevelopment in each area. Once complete, these master plans will be incorporated into this Plan. Once the Plan is amended, the City, and private partners can address individual actions related to necessary entitlements to insure projects realize the greatest amount of private redevelopment activity. • Phase II – Stakeholder Outreach The City of Chamblee will use resources to contact property owners, businesses, and residents in the areas. Communication of the project’s goals and strategies with area stakeholders will greatly increase the probability of successful redevelopment. • Phase III – Infrastructure Planning The City of Chamblee will coordinate planned and new infrastructure projects to coincide with redevelopment projects that arise from the master planning and outreach phases. Analysis of existing and planned tax revenues will be performed to prioritize projects.

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Appendix A

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Appendix B

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