Long Range Planning
Newsletter
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Mission Statement
To advance a long range vision of a livable, equitable, sustainable, beautiful, and prosperous DeKalb County through the implementation of adopted plans, policies, and partnerships.
| | | Shape the Future of the DeKalb Stone Mountain Trail | |
DeKalb Stone Mountain Trail Master Plan
Take the survey to share your perspectives on this Plan, which 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.
Click here to take the survey and share your perspectives on the future of the Stone Mountain Trail. Deadline extended! The survey is open through April!
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Upcoming Community Engagement
Mark your calendars for another round of events in April and May - a project booth and community design charrette!
Pop-Up Event
April 26, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Refuge Coffee Spring Market
4170 E Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Clarkston, GA 30021
Visit the project webpage to learn more, catch up on past events, and review upcoming project events!
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Tricia Prevost, AICP
Sr. Planner
Email
| | The DeKalb Community Academy is an initiative aimed at empowering communities and fostering partnerships through education on policy, zoning, land-use, and other planning-related matters. | |
Columbia Community 101
The Planning & Sustainability Department discussed local planning needs specific to the Columbia area and explored educational resources.
Our team will compile all input—including survey responses—into a comprehensive Action Plan developed in collaboration with the Steering Committee. This plan will reflect the community’s vision and outline actionable steps toward meaningful change.
Look forward to updates regarding future meetings and opportunities soon!
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LaSonji Marshall
Special Projects Coordinator
Email
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Eva Chauveau
Planner
Email
| | Greater Hidden Hills Overlay Study | |
Greater Hidden Hills Overlay Study
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.
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!
Public Meeting
Wednesday, April 16, 2025, on Zoom (click below to register!)
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Tricia Prevost, AICP
Sr. Planner
Email
| | Embry Hills Arts & Culture Small Area Plan | |
Presidential Parkway Arts & Culture Plan
The Embry Hills/Presidential Parkway Arts & Culture plan is in the works!
This initiative aims to identify cultural assets and ways to enhance them through art and design. By working together with residents and local stakeholders, we aim to highlight what makes the area unique and develop a strong "identity" for the area. Through the plan, we also plan to build a strategy to brand the area through creative design, cultural, and placemaking principles.
Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
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Aprell King
Planner
Email
| | | | Happy Earth Month! Check out the ways you can get involved and make a difference in protecting our community and our planet! | | |
Volunteers needed to help DeKalb trees!
DeKalb County Department of Planning & Sustainability Department is in the process of creating a map of DeKalb’s tree canopy and how it has changed over time.
In order to validate the data we are collecting, beginning in late March and early April, we will be conducting site visits to various locations throughout the county to observe the trees. Volunteers will be asked to visit several locations, take photos, and make detailed notes about their observations. Training and detailed instructions will be provided.
If you are interested in learning more, please fill out this form, and we will be in touch soon!
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March into a Cleaner Tomorrow - The Great American Cleanup!
The DeKalb County Beautification Unit is hosting the March into a Cleaner Tomorrow campaign! This campaign highlights two initiatives designed to inspire community action: Global Recycling Day (March 18), and the Great American Cleanup!
Great American Cleanup - Thursday, March 20 - Saturday, June 21, 2025
We invite all residents, organizations, and community groups to join the challenge! Let’s see which Super District can collect the most litter. We’ll track the results by converting collected bags into pounds and ultimately tons of waste removed.
Together, we can create lasting change one bag at a time!
Click here to register and become part of the movement to Keep DeKalb Beautiful and Clean.
| | | Sweep the Hooch hosted by Chattahoochee Riverkeeper - March 22, 2025 | |
On Saturday, March 22, volunteers congregated at 64 parks, creeks, and river access points throughout the watershed for a day of service to the Chattahoochee River. Over 1,500 volunteers helped haul 41 tons of trash from the waterways!
The Long Range Planning team had some staff members join the effort this year and picked up some litter along the Peachtree Creek Greenway. We hope that you join this great cause next year on March 21, 2026. Find out more information about cleanups here!
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Earth Day Festival at EMBARC Youth Farm
Saturday, April 19, 2025 |12 PM - 4 PM
1185 Rock Chapel Road, Lithonia, GA 30058
Find out more information and RSVP for the event here!
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Our Front Yard Tree Program is an opportunity for DeKalb homeowners to add shade and beauty to their yard, at no cost to the homeowner. Our partner, Trees Atlanta, provides advice on species selection and the best location for the tree, and will deliver and plant the tree.
Click here to fill out an application for a front yard tree!
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Explore planning and transportation initiatives, as well as key demographics of our census tracts in our new platform DeKalb Community Atlas.
Available maps and data include a Permit and Application tracker, SPLOST Projects, Community profiles, Housing and Income Statistics, Economics, and more.
Feedback is greatly appreciated. Comments can be submitted on the DeKalb Community Atlas "Comments and Feedback" tab.
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Engage DeKalb is Planning and Sustainability's community engagement platform!
With Engage DeKalb, community members can actively participate by taking part in surveys, sharing ideas, and staying up to date with ongoing projects in the community.
Some current projects include Short Term Rentals Text Amendment, Special Event Facilities Text Amendment, Global City-Memorial Drive Community Revitalization Plan, and more!
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East Lake Station Rehabilitation - South Entrance Closure Delayed
MARTA is disappointed to announce that the planned closure of the south entrance for pedestrian bridge replacement, originally scheduled for March 24, 2025, has been delayed. A new closure date has not yet been set, and MARTA is committed to providing advance notice once it is confirmed.
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Indian Creek Station - Temporary Bus Loop Closure Starts April 2
Starting April 2, the bus loop will be closed for gutter improvements, and all buses will board from the Kiss & Ride in the eastern parking lot.
Please look for signs inside and outside the station leading to the temporary bus boarding location. MARTA expects the work to take approximately six weeks.
| | | Long Range Planning Staff | | Kathy Reed (left) at the Stone Mountain Green Careers Panel, March 19, 2025 | A recording of the panel is available online. | |
Green Careers Panel
Kathy Reed, Sustainability Coordinator, had the opportunity to take part in the Green Careers Panel at Stone Mountain High School and talk about her work with the county and inspire students to pursue a career in Sustainability and incorporate green practices in their daily life.
We thank Stone Mountain High School for the opportunity to speak at their panel, and hope to build upon this relationship moving forward!
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GPA Spring Conference
Long Range Planners Apell King and Eva Chauveau took part in this year's GPA Spring Conference in Gainesville, GA.
Attendees enjoyed a day packed with exhilarating presentations and panels covering transportation, housing, and inclusive communities, environmental and sustainability planning, including three engaging mobile sessions exploring Gainesville-Hall County’s multi-use trails, local projects that is generating global impacts, and innovative placemaking strategies.
Find out more information about the GPA Spring Conference here.
| | (From left to right) Eva Chauveau, Lucas Carter, and Aprell King at Engine 209 Park, Gainesville, GA | | | | | |
