Winters Chapel Community Improvements Discussed at Town Hall Meeting

On Tuesday, Oct. 7, over 100 Peachtree Corners residents attended a Town Hall Meeting hosted by Councilmembers Phil Sadd, (Post 1) and Lorri Christopher (Post 5). The meeting was held at the Winters Chapel UMC on Winters Chapel Road.

The agenda included the joint plans by the cities of Peachtree Corners and Dunwoody on improvements for the Winters Chapel Road area, plans for the Holcomb Bridge Corridor, voting in the upcoming municipal election, an update on the plans for the Town Center and other city news.

Councilmember Sadd discussed the partnership between Peachtree Corners and the City of Dunwoody on addressing issues common to both communities including land use, sidewalks, signage, landscaping and roadways. Dunwoody’s mayor and three council members also attended and Mayor Mike Davis spoke to the group which included a number of Dunwoody residents.

“As a community, we share a common desire for this area to not get run down but for it to improve,” said Sadd. “We want the area to become a safer environment in which to live and to see our property values increase.”

The City of Peachtree Corners has asked Pond and Co., an engineering firm, to develop a comprehensive program. The plan will address the area surrounding Winters Chapel Road and the two cities will share in the cost of the study. If approved by the two city councils, the work could start before the end of the year. Plans include a public works session to allow citizens the chance to share their comments and input for improvements to the area.

Mayor Mike Mason provided an overview of the Holcomb Bridge corridor and the plans for improving the area. “The city has already implemented programs to begin improving this area including the Multi Family Crime-Free Prevention Program, which is spearheaded by Gwinnett County Police and the City’s Code Enforcement Apartment sweeps,” said Mason. “Both initiatives will help reduce crime and improve quality of life in this very important section of our community.”

Diana Wheeler, the Community Development Director, provided a brief update on the Livable Center Initiative (LCI) study which includes the city’s Town Center. She presented a map of the Town Center and announced that the plans will be available for review at the next UPCCA meeting which will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, at the Peachtree Corners Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

Councilmember Lorri Christopher answered questions about the city’s first municipal election and explained that voters will need to go to City Hall to cast their votes in municipal elections and also visit their usual polling location to vote in county, state and federal elections.

She also provided information on the city’s “Proud to be Peachtree Corners Stationery Reimbursement Program” for businesses and announced the date for this year’s “Holiday Parade” which will be Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. More details on the parade are available on www.christmasinthecorners.com

The meeting concluded with a question and answer period. Rev. Chin, with New Church of Atlanta, provided the invocation at the start of the meeting.