Leafmore Creek Park Hills Civic Association Presents

1
Leafmore Creek Park Hills Civic Association
Presents
An Overview of the Proposed Overlay Zoning
District
2

• Recent development on Montevallo Circle, which
  is incompatible with existing heights and styles
  of neighboring homes spurred the community to
  propose an overlay zoning district to the DeKalb
  County Board of Commissioners.

3

• Leafmore Creek Park Hills (Leafmore Hills)
  subdivision was one of the first swim/tennis
  communities established in the early 1950s.
• Current zoning is R-100 single family detached
  residences.
• The houses in this neighborhood are one or two
  story brick ranch homes.

4
While many homes have been upgraded to include
second stories, these additions are consistent
with the original footprint of the home and the
neighborhood overall. This consistency in
development and maintenance makes our
neighborhood one of the most sought after inside
the perimeter.
5
Preserving the character and consistency of our
neighborhood is important because it also
preserves

• The community ambiance.
• Property and home values.
• Safe neighborhood environment.
• The natural environment.
• The walking community.

6
Teardown and Incompatible Infill

• Happens when a Leafmore Ranch is demolished
  and replaced with a Mini-Mansion. During
  construction, the area is messy, noisy and
  unsecured. After construction, the look and feel
  of the area is changed.

7
Why is teardown/incompatible infill a problem for
Leafmore Hills?

• The desirability and resale value of adjacent
  homes could be reduced.
• Destroys the visual ambiance and obscures natural
  light of nearby homes.
• Leads to inconsistent development which alters
  the character of our streets.
• Decreases community because the living space
  of the house is private and obscured by a
  multi-car garage.
• Reduces pride of ownership.

8
Proposed Overlay Zoning District

• The proposed overlay zoning district is one way
  to protect our neighborhood from incompatible
  infill development while still maintaining our
  ability to remodel, renovate, add-on etc
• An overlay district is extra protection for our
  R-100 zoning designation.
• This is not a rezoning.
• The communities of Dunwoody and Candler Park have
  used this tool to protect their neighborhoods.

9
What would overlay zoning do for Leafmore Creek
Park Hills?

• Require new development to appear similar to
  traditional housing in the neighborhood.
• Set height restrictions at 28 feet in height from
  the front door threshold of the original home to
  the top of the roofline of the new construction.
  (a typical house in this area is 15 feet above
  grade).

10
What would overlay zoning do for Leafmore Creek
Park Hills?

• Restrict locations of new construction within a
  lot.
• New construction is occurs where 35 or more or
  an existing residence is demolished.
• New construction must also be careful to preserve
  existing trees.

11
How is an overlay zoning district established?

• Community residents and members of the Leafmore
  Creek Park Hills Civil Association drafted an
  ordinance describing the proposed overlay zoning
  district.
• This proposal was presented to DeKalb County
  Commissioners for discussion and eventual
  adoption.
• Community members also met with this districts
  commissioner, Gale Walldorff, and received
  feedback from DeKalb County Planning Department
  staff.

12
How is an overlay zoning district established?

• Informational meetings with members of this
  community to further discuss the problem and
  proposed solution.
• The ordinance may change in response to comment
  and review.
• If successful, the DeKalb County Board of
  Commissioners will pass the ordinance into law at
  a public meeting.

13
In Closing

• The proposed overlay zoning district will
  preserve the character of our community and
  improve property values.
• Additional information is available at
  www.leafmore-creekpark.org.
• Please share this information with your neighbors
  who were not able to attend.
• Thank you for taking the time to attend tonights
  informational meeting.

14
Additional Information and Contacts

• http//www.leafmore-creekpark.org/
• http//www.co.dekalb.ga.us/planning/
• http//www.dekalbnet.org/countycode/
• http//www.stoprecklessrezoning.org/
• Adrian Scott Fine Jim Lindberg, Taming the
  Teardown Trend, Protecting Americas Historic
  Neighborhoods, National Trust for Historic
  Preservation, June, 2002, http//www.hollywoodlake
  s.com/Teardowns.pdf
• For questions and additional information, contact
  Ted Daniel, tedaniel_at_mindspring.com, 404-315-7833