Thank you everyone who helped to protect our community. You stayed true to the vision of a community that has high-quality, desirable businesses, such as more cafes and restaurants (no fast food), high-quality grocery stores, a variety of retail options, entertainment venues, and professional services. We encourage developers to consider the demand for higher-end businesses in our area. They could capture the dollars we spend in Decatur, Avondale Estates, Tucker, and north DeKalb.

The DeKalb Board of Commissioners met Aug. 13, and all seven commissioners supported the denial. 

Commission Approved New Zoning for the Community

The text amendment to the Hidden Hills Overlay code passed unanimously at the BOC meeting Aug. 13! The changes will help attract mixed use development and desirable businesses in commercial corridors.   

The original code was approved in 2011. It covers a four-square-mile area around Hidden Hills, from Covington to Redan, Hairston to Young Road/Panola. Click here to see the map.   It did not bring about the redevelopment and businesses we had hoped for.  Areas like the underused shopping centers at Hairston/Redan and Covington/S. Hairston are ripe for redevelopment.  The changes are designed to attract mixed-use development along the main commercial corridors as well as bring it up-to-date with County zoning code changes. 

The main change is to allow 80% residential in the mixed-use projects rather than the current 70%. Additional density will be given for including restaurants or cafes, grocery stores, medical offices, retail, and/or more public space (all things the public asked for in the spring survey). 

We appreciate the hard work of senior planner Tricia Prevost. Thanks also to urban designer Aarya More who created a story map explaining the Hidden Hills Overlay and the proposed changes.  We encourage you to review it at this link.