Too long; didn’t read:

• Atlanta Public Schools intends to expand their bus depot and purchased additional land
• That land is zoned in a way that requires streetscape improvements
• We need to put pressure on APS and the City to enforce those streetscape requirements in their redevelopment

Background:

• Empire (a developer) purchased an assemblage of parcels between Casplan and Metropolitan; with an outparcel on the north side of Casplan (red pin)
• Stryant (another developer) purchased the retail portion of the site from Empire (who primarily builds residential)
• Stryant and Atlanta Public Schools entered into an agreement to sell the northern outparcel for the expansion of the bus depot
• The neighborhood and NPU asked our Board member Eshe Collins to bring up concerns about this to the APS Board, but they ultimately proceeded with the sale
• Neighborhood plans had identified the MRC-1 (Mixed Residential Commercial) parcels here as a mixed-use hub for the neighborhood; APS’ plans to expand the bus depot are inconsistent with these plans.

What’s happening?

• APS and Stryant have finalized their transaction
• APS is putting together plans for the bus depot expansion

Analyzing the City’s proposal:

The Good:

• This parcel’s zoning includes streetscape updates and has screening requirements

• “5-10-5” sidewalk, which has a 5’ street tree area, 10’ sidewalk, and 5’ stoop zone

  

  Example of 5-10-5 Sidewalk in Reynoldstown on Memorial Drive

• no parking located between buildings and streets, as well as landscape and vegetation standards

• This parcel’s zoning should prevent APS from just paving over the existing lot