You Decide - One Big Party or Trail of Tears?

Dunwoody Parks & Rec is opening the first phase of the much-debated Brook Run Trail.

Dunwoody, GA – July 19, 2013 – The City of Dunwoody Department of Parks and Recreation celebrates the grand opening of Phase I of the Brook Run Park multi-use trail with a “Wheel-a-Palooza and Pedal Parade.” The special grand opening event and parade begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Brook Run Park trail entrance, between the playground and skate park, on Saturday, August 3, and includes a bike/vehicle decorating contest judged by local celebrities.

Entire Press Release

Lots of debate, yelling, screaming, red shirts, impromptu YouTube videos, hyperbole, shouts of praise, and "wait-and-see" surrounded this project. So which is it? Is the first phase of the trail a devastating blow to an "urban forest", or is it a necessary development that makes said "urban forest" usable and enjoyable by a wider range of citizenry?

Show up on August 3 and decide for yourself.

Comments are open.

And They're Off...

Dunwoody elections will include local district council members in November.
That is, each of the three districts will elect a representative that is only voted on by residents of that district.

Here's the current lineup:

District 1 (West)
Denny Shortal

District 2 (Central)
Heyward Wescott

District 3 (East)
Doug Thompson

No one else (as far as my "IN" box is concerned) has declared their candidacy. So it's too early to speculate as to how heated the process will get.

I do predict that if the seats are contested there will be some arguments as to whether the merits of each candidate should be debated by those living in different districts, who will not be voting on them.

Any more hats flying in?

Zoning Rewrite - no more ice cream trucks!

The Zoning Rewrite has passed Community Council in June with some modifications.

Here are the full details

CC seemed to be satisfied with the boundaries defining home occupations, backyard gardening,  garage sales, subdivision redevelopment, and other stereotypical "hot button" issues that the usual suspects are afraid of.

But ice cream trucks are a nuisance.

You head that right, gang!  Because food trucks are "in" and required clear definitions to be allowed, traditional ice cream trucks with their little bells and calliope tunes are banned.

Quoted from the above memo at City Hall.  (emphases added)

It is important to note, the attached meeting minutes from the Community Council meeting
provide information on all the topics discussed. While the majority of topics received
clarification during the scheduled meeting, Staff was charged with looking into the
correlation between food trucks and ice cream trucks. The drafted ordinance, in Chapter 27,
Article 8, defines food trucks as “a licensed motor vehicle or other mobile food dispensation
unit that is temporarily parked outside of the right-of-way and in which food items are sold
to the general public.” Pursuant to Section 18-19(b)(16), ice cream trucks would fall under “sound trucks,” which are mechanical loudspeakers or amplifiers on trucks or other moving
or standing vehicles for advertising or other commercial purposes. Such vehicles are
declared to be loud, disturbing, and unnecessary noise in violation of the noise ordinance
regulations. Therefore, because of the noise they emit and the fact that retail sales are not
a permitted use in residential districts, ice cream trucks are prohibited. 

My kids want to start a riot.  Who's in?