Tucker’s Mayor and City Council finished out their business for 2021 at a lengthy meeting on Monday night at City Hall.
Council cast several votes on the evening, including granting a deferral on a special land use permit (SLUP) application to re-locate the Tucker Station Chick-fil-A to the site of the old Greater Good BBQ on Hugh Howell Road. The deferral will allow the petitioner more time to examine transportation options, and residents in the area more time to respond to those transportation options, specifically the proposed closure of Rosser Terrace to prevent anticipated cut through traffic. A public meeting will be held on January 18 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall for residents to weigh in on the Rosser proposal. The land use case will now go back to a first read before Council on January 24.
Beyond that vote, Council determined a host of other land use issues, including:
- denial of major modifications to approved conditions for a townhome development at 3281 Tucker Norcross Road. The petition seeked to allow for more rentals in the development.
- approval a rezoning for a drive-thru facility at the new retail and dining development at the intersection of Hugh Howell Road and Mountain Industrial Boulevard. The restaurant, situated at 4650 Hugh Howell Road, is advertised to be a gusto! franchise location.
- approval of a SLUP to allow a massage establishment at 2088 Idlewood Road.
- approval of city-initiated rezonings for six properties in the area of Richardson Street and East Ponce de Leon Avenue.
- deferral of city initiated rezonings on 1220 and 1250 Richardson Street. Council also extended a moratorium on those properties for 90 days. The issue will come back before the Council at its meeting on March 14.
The other land use case Council heard was a first read and public hearing for a SLUP petition to redevelop a gas station at 4118 Lavista Road. The case will be back before Council for a second read, public hearing and anticipated vote in January.
In other action taken, Council voted to consent to the Mayor’s reappointment of Judge Steve Nicholas as the City’s Municipal Court Chief Judge. His term will now last for an additional year. They then approved a resolution laying out priorities on how to spend American Rescue Plan Act funds. The resolution does not bind the City to spend funds on any particular items, but sets forth guidelines to help the next City Council in their budgeting. Next, Council approved a contract for redesign of the City’s website with Planeteria Media for $55,000. They also approved a contract with DAF Concrete for sidewalk construction along Brockett and Montreal Roads. The contract is for just north of $277,000. The lone item from Parks and Recreation was an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the DeKalb County Board of Education to cover facilities use. Council voted to authorize the Mayor to execute the IGA once it is completed and approved by both parties.
Earlier in the evening, Council held a special called meeting to honor Pat Soltys, Matt Robbins and Michelle Penkava as they complete their terms in office. Mayor Auman presented each with a proclamation to thank them for their service.
The Mayor and new City Council will meet on January 11 at City Hall. New councilmembers will be sworn in at 6 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 7.
