Leafmore Creek Park Hills Civic Association Presents…

An Overview of the Proposed Overlay Zoning District

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.

• 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.

While many homes have been upgraded to include second stories, these While many homes have been upgraded to include second stories, these additions are consistent with the original footprint of the home and the additions are consistent with the original footprint of the home and the neighborhood overall. neighborhood overall. This consistency in development and maintenance This consistency in development and maintenance makes our neighborhood one of the most sought after inside the perimeter.makes our neighborhood one of the most sought after inside the perimeter.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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 district’s commissioner, Gale Walldorff, and received feedback from DeKalb County Planning Department staff.

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.

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 tonight’s informational meeting.

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 America’s Historic Neighborhoods, National Trust for Historic Preservation, June, 2002, http://www.hollywoodlakes.com/Teardowns.pdf

• For questions and additional information, contact Ted Daniel, tedaniel@mindspring.com, 404-315-7833