Medline LCI Study | Master Plan Open House & Celebration Meeting Summary International Community School | 2418 Woodland Trail Lane; Decatur, GA 30033 June 6, 2014 6:00 – 8:00 PM Attendees A total of 64 individuals signed in at the open house. Over 90 were in attendance. Agenda  6:00 – 6:15 | Open House  6:15 – 7:00 | Presentation  7:00 – 8:00 | Open House

Summary Shawanna Qawiy, DeKalb County Planning & Sustainability Department Project Manager, welcomed attendees and provided a brief introduction of the LCI process and the purpose of the study. She introduced DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon who gave remarks about the importance of the LCI process and public involvement. She thanked the attendees for being involved and encouraged their continued involvement through implementation. Bill de St. Aubin, project manager from the Sizemore Group gave a presentation that explained the approach for this LCI study and emphasized its focus on health and wellness and providing alternative transportation options for stakeholders that would make the study area an easier place to walk and cycle. He talked about the recommendations and as they relate to the focus areas of the Master Plan Key concepts for each focus area were discussed. Lastly, Bill provided an in-depth overview of the Medlock Road/North Druid Hills/Church Street intersection including an explanation of the option to close Medlock Road to vehicular traffic in the long term. At the conclusion of the presentation, Shawanna opened the floor for questions. The following questions or comments were raised: 

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Is there a bike lane being proposed down the center of North Decatur Road? To our knowledge, there is not a bicycle lane being proposed down the center of North Decatur Road. There are bicycle recommendations proposed for North Decatur Road in the area of Suburban Plaza. Are you coordinating with other health industry entities such as the CDC?

Medline LCI Study | Master Plan Open House & Celebration

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Yes, this study has coordinated with many of the health-related entities located within the study area including the DeKalb Medical Center and the DeKalb County Board of Health. They have been partners in the development of this plan. Additionally, the consultant team included HKS – a leader in the area of hospital and wellness architecture/planning. They have served as our subject matter experts in this area. The proposed Dunkin Donuts development seems inconsistent with what is being proposed by the LCI study. While that may be true, developers such as Dunkin Donuts have the right to propose development in the study area. The public will need to be vocal in support of or opposition to the type of development they deem appropriate or not in the community. This plan puts the community in a position to better guide new development. How can we ensure that the right type of development occurs? You must stay involved as residents and community stakeholders. Design standards and recommendations could be a product of the implementation phase of this project that can help to guide the type of development people want to see in their community. A good next step will be a zoning code or overlay that can direct or guide development. How is this type of study funded? The Atlanta Regional Commission started the LCI process as a way to give municipalities a chance to create plans that members of the community could be involved in. The municipalities must apply for the grant from the ARC who will provide 80% of the funding; municipalities must bring the remaining 20% of the funds to the table. The match comes from the municipality as well as community businesses and other jurisdictions in the area.

At the conclusion of the question and answer period, Bill introduced the project management team and concluded the presentation portion of the meeting. He encouraged all attendees to join the tactical demonstration/celebration outside, take a closer look at the presentation boards, enjoy the pedestrian plaza demonstration (tables, chairs, trees, flowers, and food trucks), to speak to project staff one-on-one and to join the bike tour that would explore some of the bike trail recommendations.

Medline LCI Study | Master Plan Open House & Celebration

Attendees were also encouraged to participate in the Pop-Up Town Hall which asked “What makes for a healthy/well community?” Responses were as follows:              

Parks Dog parks Traffic circles to slow traffic for pedestrians Greenspace Bike lanes Connected trails Sidewalks Healthy food Beautification: park benches, flowers, street lights, art Kindness, compassion, understanding No more fast food or big box companies! Walkability Neighbors Money