We’d love for you to be part of our annual 5K Run/Walk/Bike Race this Saturday, June 14th at 8:30 AM!

Whether you’re a seasoned runner, a casual walker, or just looking for a fun way to enjoy the morning with friends and family, this 3.1-mile event is for everyone. Bring your energy, bring your bike, bring your kids—and let’s make it a great day together.

Official race timing is available for those working toward personal goals or qualifying for other races.

Come out, connect with the community, and help keep this local tradition going strong—we can’t wait to cheer you on!

Meet at Biffle Park, 5221 Biffle Road, Stone Mountain.

Click here to register now.
$25.00 per runner, children 12 and under free.

Or register on the day of the race at the park:  $30.00 the day of the race

Save the Date: Great American Campout & Environmental Career Day

June 28, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Hairston Park, 889 S. Hairston Road
A Day of Fun and Adventure: Get ready for a fun-filled day of camping tips and career opportunities in environmental and green occupations. There will  be games, crafts, guest speakers, trail walks, birding, food, and more! This exciting event is perfect for families and friends of all ages.

Click here to see how you can help out!

Closed Golf Course Development Starts SLUP Process June 9 

McKinley Homes is asking for a special land use permit to include senior housing in its development of 230 residences on 54 acres in the center of the closed Hidden Hills golf course.  This level of density is allowed under the Hidden Hills Overlay as long as the rest of the golf course (130 acres of fairways) remain as greenspace.  The company must receive approval for a special land use permit to include senior housing on the site. 

Click here to see the slides presented at the public meeting April 14. 

The plan shows three types of housing units: 

• 131 single-story units for seniors; 28’x 64’, some will include a loft, priced in the mid- to high-$300,000s. 

• 55 two-story, front entry townhomes, priced in the mid $300,000s. 

• 44 two-story units on single-family lots, priced between $400,000 to $450,000. 

Click here to see the sketch plat. 

Click here to see renderings and samples of the kind of homes McKinley would build. 

• The public hearing process begins with District 5 Community Council meeting at 6:30, June 9. Use this Zoom link to attend. 

• On July 8, 6 p.m., the Planning Commission will hear the case. 

• On July 24, 5:30 p.m. the Board of Commissioners will hear the case, in person, at 178 Sams Street, Decatur. 

You can read all about this case and upcoming cases at this website:  https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/planning-and-sustainability/public-hearing-agendas-info 

In this Planning Review cycle, the short-term rental regulations will come up again. These are the new rules affecting AirBnB and other type rentals. There are several requests to allow personal care homes and childcare facilities in District 5. In District 4, there is a request to allow an alcohol outlet at 1101 N. Hairston Road (just south of Central).  The District 4 Community Council hears the case on June 17, 5:30 p.m., on Zoom. 

Save the Date for the Great American Campout and Environmental Career Day 

June 28 
10 am – 2 pm 
Hairston Park 
889 S. Hairston, Stone Mountain 

There will be fishing, birdwatching, trail walks, camping tips and many hands-on activities. Join the Fun! Tell your friends!
Join us for a fun day of exploring basic camping skills & green careers! Volunteers needed for setup, activity support & breakdown. Enjoy nature & give back! If you can help, please sign up at this link: https://x.gldn.io/e/4KmKOEhnITb 

Envisioning the Future and Changing Codes to Make it Real 

We continue to make progress on the vision for development in the Greater Hidden Hills area. The impetus is to create more desirable development in our community by changing parts of the overlay code. The Planning Department is reviewing recommendations and hopes to present them to the public by July.  We’ll keep you posted. 

Thank you to those who have contributed to the Greater Hidden Hills CDC. 
Your support helps us maintain our 501c3 status as a nonprofit, pay for our website and email notices, and other operational expenses. We work on behalf of all communities in and adjacent to the Hidden Hills overlay district. We would appreciate your financial donation. 
Membership is $25 for individuals and $125 for neighborhood associations and businesses each year.  
https://greaterhiddenhillscdc.org/you-can-make-a-difference/ 
Or donate directly through PayPal 
  
Thank you for reading.  Let’s keep working together to leave our community better than we found it! 
  
Written and prepared by Jan Costello. 
Comments? Questions? Our email is GHHCDC@gmail.com 

This Saturday: Fitness & Yoga in Biffle Park

Start your morning with movement, mindfulness, and fresh air in a beautiful outdoor setting. All levels welcome!

📅 Date: Saturday, May 3
🕗 Time: 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
📍 Location: Biffle Park, 5221 Biffle Road, Stone Mountain

✨ Bring water and a friend!

Public Learns More about Proposed Development in Center of Closed Golf Course  
On April 14, McKinley Homes held a standing-room-only meeting to discuss plans to build 230 residences on 54 acres in the center of the closed golf course.  This level of density is allowed under the Hidden Hills Overlay as long as the rest of the golf course (130 acres of fairways) remain as greenspace.  The company must receive approval for a special land use permit to include senior housing on the site.

Click here to see the slides presented at the public meeting April 14.

In this latest version of the development plan, McKinley Homes would place 230 residences on the 54 acres. All residences would have garages. The development includes a 3,000 square-foot community facility/clubhouse.

The plan shows three types of housing units:

• 131 single-story units for seniors; 28’x 64’, some will include a loft, priced in the mid- to high-$300,000s.
• 55 two-story, front entry townhomes, priced in the mid $300,000s.
• 44 two-story units on single-family lots, priced between $400,000 to $450,000.

Click here to see the sketch plat.

Click here to see renderings and samples of the kind of homes McKinley would build.   

Community Involved in Shaping the Future
We had a great meeting on the future of the greater Hidden Hills community April 16.  It was the first, but there will be more. The Long-Range Planning Department is taking our opinion and drafting a revised overlay code for the community. As soon as the draft is ready, we’ll have another meeting. Stay tuned!

If you have not taken the survey, please do so (click here). We want to know what kind of development you want all the area surrounding Hidden Hills.

• A copy of the presentation slides is available here .
• The recording for the meeting is available here  .

 We look forward to your continued interest in this project.

Updates on Hairston Park
More than 17 people enjoyed a guided nature walk led by a local expert on April 26.  They also picked up litter while learning about native plants, wildlife, and ways to care for our planet.

Great American Campout & Environmental Career Day
June 28, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Hairston Park, 889 S. Hairston Road
A Day of Fun and Adventure

Get ready for a fun-filled day of camping tips and career opportunities in environmental and green occupations. There will  be games, crafts, guest speakers, trail walks, birding, food, and more! This exciting event is perfect for families and friends of all ages.

Give Your Opinion on Stone Mountain Trail
This trail aims to enhance connectivity and trail access, provide affordable housing options, foster people-focused spaces, and drive economic development along the trail corridor. This project is funded with support from ARC’s Community Development Assistance Program.
* May 21, 3 – 7 pm: Design Charrette: Mark your calendars and be sure to drop by this event between 3 – 7pm on Wednesday, May 21 at
Clarkston Women’s Center
3913 Church St.
Clarkston, GA  30021
Come share feedback through interactive activities – all ages are welcome!
*Project Survey: Click here to take the survey and share your perspectives on the future of the Stone Mountain Trail. Be sure to participate before the survey closes in mid-May.
*Visit the project webpage to learn more, catch up on past events, and review upcoming project events!
https://engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov/stone-mountain-trail

Thank you to those who have contributed to the Greater Hidden Hills CDC.
Your support helps us maintain our 501c3 status as a nonprofit, pay for our website and email notices, and other operational expenses. We work on behalf of all communities in and adjacent to the Hidden Hills overlay district. We would appreciate your financial donation.

Membership is $25 for individuals and $125 for neighborhood associations and businesses each year. 

Or donate directly through PayPal

Thank you for reading.  Let’s keep working together to leave our community better than we found it!

Written and prepared by Jan Costello.

Comments? Questions? Our email is GHHCDC@gmail.com

Zoom is having a worldwide meltdown, so the Greater Hidden Hills visioning meeting has been switched to Microsoft Teams.  Please click on the link below for the 6:30 p.m. meeting tonight. Please join early because you will need to sign in.  Planning staff will review the history and purpose of the overlay, present the results of the preliminary study, discuss the visioning process, and answer any questions with regards to the study. Please join us to learn more and provide your input for the direction of this study!
 
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/16351493-0f04-4b72-affd-67f8ea9bdbf8@292d5527-abff-45ff-bc92-b1db1037607b
 
This meeting will be recorded, so if you register and cannot attend, you will still receive the recording. The overlay district runs from Covington Hwy to Redan Road, S. Hairston to Panola.  Dozens of neighborhoods within and around this area are affected by the code.

There is a new sketch plat for the development of the central part of the closed golf course. The developer – McKinley Homes – is asking to place 230 residences on the 54 acres. These are designated as:

• 131 single-story units for seniors   (about 1,072 sq feet each)
• 44 2-story units on single-family lots  (about 2,000 sq feet each)
• 55 2-story, front entry townhomes    (about 1,750 sq feet each)

It includes a 3,000 square foot community facility/clubhouse.

 We will learn more details at a meeting with the developers on April 14, 6 pm at Hairston Crossing Library, 4911 Redan Road.  The developer will need a Special Land Use Permit to go forward with this proposal.  The date for that meeting has not been set.

You can review the sketch plat at this link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GJXPfk6ecl-prt3UDut5-eK1qe_LUL8S/view?usp=sharing

Help shape the future of Greater Hidden Hills! Share your feedback in a brief survey.

What do we want this community to look like in 10 years? What kind of businesses do we want to attract? How dense should the development be? In partnership with the Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corporation, DeKalb County is conducting a study to update the Hidden Hills Overlay District. This overlay was established in 2009 to provide customized zoning requirements to best meet the development goals of the community and to protect greenspace. With this study, the County will update these standards to meet current development trends and better promote the community’s vision. Join us by sharing your input!

Click here to take the survey.

The overlay district runs from Covington Hwy to Redan Road, S. Hairston to Panola.  Dozens of neighborhoods within and around this area are affected by the code. View the map, take the survey, and learn more about the project by clicking the link below:

https://engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov/greater-hidden-hills-overlay-study

Share this message with your friends and neighbors. The vision will reflect our community, and we want everyone’s input!

Calling on Biffle Park Friends

Work together to take care of our greenspace in Biffle Park. This Saturday, April 5, we’re mulching around eight young trees and pulling out invasive plants that are killing trees.  We had a great turnout a month ago and we hope to get a lot done Saturday before the spring growing season takes hold.

We’ll also have teams removing litter and graffiti.

We hope you can be of service. Please bring work gloves and water. We will provide the tools.

Join us Saturday,
April 5, 2025
9:00 a.m. – noon

Biffle Park, 5221 Biffle Road, Stone Mountain

Click her to register, please.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Please share this opportunity with your neighbors and on social media. 

What do we want this community to look like in 10 years? What kind of businesses do we want to attract? How dense should the development be? In partnership with the Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corporation, DeKalb County is conducting a study to update the Hidden Hills Overlay District. This overlay was established in 2009 to provide customized zoning requirements to best meet the development goals of the community and to protect greenspace. With this study, the County will update these standards to meet current development trends and better promote the community’s vision. Join us by sharing your input!

Click here to take the survey.

The overlay district runs from Covington Hwy to Redan Road, S. Hairston to Panola.  Dozens of neighborhoods within and around this area are affected by the code. View the map, take the survey, and learn more about the project by clicking the link below:

https://engagedekalb.dekalbcountyga.gov/greater-hidden-hills-overlay-study

Share this message with your friends and neighbors. The vision will reflect our community, and we want everyone’s input!

Save the date: April 16, 6:30. We’ll have a Zoom conference to go over results, answer questions, and explain next steps.
(You may use the QR to take the survey.)

The effort improves our quality of life and helps attract quality development.  Stay informed about what’s happening in our parks and join us in making them welcoming for all.

Join the Hairston Park Trailblazers

March 29, 2025, 9am to noon
889 S. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain

Volunteers are heading back to the trails, clearing brush, marking trail edges, and picking up trash.  Join the fun!  Please dress for the weather and bring your water bottle. Friends of Hairston Park will provide snacks, tools and gloves.

Click here to register:

https://volunteer.handsonatlanta.org/opportunities/1CULDyX9bL

or Text “Yes to Trails” at 404 438-9302

The Community Turns Out for Biffle Park    

Sixteen people helped us root out invasive plants that are killing trees in Biffle Park.  Volunteers removed English ivy and privet, focusing on areas near the path and bridges. They also picked up litter.

Biffle Park has another opportunity to be of service. Please bring work gloves and water. We will provide the tools.

Join us Saturday,
April 5, 2025
9:00 a.m. – noon
Biffle Park, 5221 Biffle Road, Stone Mountain

Click her to register, please.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Please share these opportunities with your neighbors and on social media. 

Our work removing English ivy uncovered a native plant called Pipsissewas, which grows in well drained woodlands. This tiny plant, only 1 to 3 inches long, will sprout short stalks with white or pink flowers soon. It is a member of the wintergreen family. Many Native Americans traditionally used it to break up kidney stones and treat various ailments.