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Telephone: 678-691-1200
147 Technology Pkwy, Suite 200, 
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
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City Calendar

- May 12  - No Planning Commission Meeting scheduled

-  May 19 - City Council Meeting, 7 p.m.

- May 20 - Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m.

- May 25 - Memorial Holiday - City Hall Closed

- June 9 - Planning Commission Meeting, 7 p.m.

- June 16 - City Council Meeting, 7 p.m.

All meetings held at  City Hall, 
147 Technology Parkway,  Suite 200
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092

 
Mayor Mike Mason (right) welcomes Travis Pearson as the city's new Field Services Manager
Field Services Manager Joins Public Works

 

 

Peachtree Corners Public Works Department recently added Travis Pearson as Field Services Manger for the city. Travis joins the City after over 21 years of experience in municipal operations in Powder Springs, GA.

 

He has extensive experience in municipal construction, customer service and project management and will oversee right-of-way maintenance activities such as paving, mowing, repairs of sidewalks and pot holes and roadway signage.  

 

Travis is a lifelong resident of the Metro Atlanta area.  He and his wife Amy have two sons, both of whom are serving in the U.S. Army.

Mayor Mike Mason (right) congratulates Eric Glick after he's sworn in as new Building Inspector

City Welcomes New Building Inspector


 

With new construction steadily on the rise, the City has added a new building inspector, Eric Glick, to the Building Department to assist with processing residential and commercial building permits. 

 

Eric comes from the City of Roswell where he worked for the past 11 years as a building inspector and code enforcement officer.

 

He retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving our country for 24 years and lives with his wife and daughter in Roswell.

 

Contact Eric at [email protected]

 

It's Peachtree Corners Festival Time


 

Get ready to Rock n' Roll Peachtree Corners. The 2015 weekend festival begins with a Friday night concert on June 12, then follows with a weekend of food, fun and shopping.

 

The 5th annual festival features a free concert with two favorites, The Haley and Alexis Band and Banks and Shane.


 
Friday concert hours are 7 - 10:30 p.m. Relax on the lawn, bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the music..  Food trucks serving meals and snacks will be available too. 

 

And on Saturday, June 13 the festival opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. On Sunday, June 14, festival hours are noon to 5 p.m. The family-friendly weekend includes arts and crafts booths, food, a car show, kids activities - and lots more entertainment all weekend long on the festival stage. 


 
Stop by the City's booth for free give-aways and information on the new Town Center.


The festival is located on The Corners Parkway and Woodhill Drive one block west of Peachtree Parkway. 


 
More festival information is available on the website:  www.peachtreecornersfestival.org

 


Code Enforcement News

Keep Your Neighborhood Looking Great


 

Use these tips to make sure you're always in compliance so you can avoid fines and keep your home and neighborhood looking good.

  • Keep grass and/or weeds below a height of 12 inches.
  • Park all vehicles on a paved surface. 

To report a violation or to register a complaint, please click HERE  or download the Peachtree Corners Fix-It app for your smartphone.


And please click on the links below for additional information. 


Quick Reference Guide to Property Maintenance and Sign Regulations


City of Peachtree Corners Property Maintenance Code


 
Contact the Code Enforcement Division at 678-691-1200 if you have any questions.


Peachtree Corners Plans Veterans Memorial 

 

Are you a veteran of the armed services - or do you have a spouse or family member who has served our country? If so, the city would like to hear from you. 


Pl
ans to create a memorial to honor Peachtree Corners veterans have begun. The location has not been determined but the plan is to have the Veterans Memorial dedicated during the same time frame that the city's Town Center is expected to be complete, in the fall of 2017.



 
We would like to document veterans' stories and honor them at the dedication but we need your help.


 
Veterans, we are asking that you send in your name and contact information including the branch of service and years served. Please include a daytime phone number.


 
Send an email to Judy Putnam, Communications Director at [email protected] or call 770-609-8821.




City Adds 36 New Businesses 
in April

City Hall processed new business tax certificates for a variety of businesses last month including a restaurant, taxi service and a new pediatric office. 

For a complete list of the 36 businesses along with their contact information,    

Use City's 'Fix It' App to Report an Issue

See a pothole that needs fixing, high grass or weeds that need mowing or a broken street light - now you can report these issues and more right from your smartphone.

Use the city's "Fix It" app to upload a photo or video and location of the problem. 

The free app may be downloaded to your iPhone, Android, Blackberry or Windows smartphone. Search for "Peachtree Corners" in the app store.

Don't have a smartphone? You can report problems using your computer through the "Fix It" link on the city's  website.


The History Corner
A Look Back at Neely Farm
 
In the 1940s, workers tend to the dairy barn of the Neely Farm.  Photo courtesy of Atlanta History Center

Almost a century ago cows grazed and crops grew on Frank Neely's  410-acre farm located on the Chattahoochee River. In the 1980s and 90s tony homes replaced the farmland and forever changed the area that would become Peachtree Corners.

Frank Neely, (1884-1979) was an Atlanta businessman and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Rich's Department Store. He built Neely Farm on a tract of land that borders the Chattahoochee River. 

The Neely house, built in 1937, is still intact and serves as a clubhouse for the Neely Farm subdivision. It was designed by the well renowned Architect Henry J. Toombs, best known for his design of "The Little White House at Warms Springs, GA which he designed for his age long friend, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the Rich's store with the bridge. Source:  Rootsweb.com

Inside Peachtree Corners
City of Peachtree Corners
News from Around the Corners
May, 2015
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Thanks for reading "Inside Peachtree Corners," the city's monthly e-newsletter. Please share this issue with any of your neighbors who may not have subscribed.

 

 


Did you know that all of the past issues of the newsletter are available on the city's website? 


 
Visit www.peachtreecornersga.gov, then locate the "News" tab at the top of the home page and select "Newsletter Archive" in the pull down menu.

 

From the Mayor's Desk
Mayor Mike Mason

Business Incubators 
A Boom for Economic Development                                

I'm excited to announce the City's plans to work with Georgia Tech's Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) to launch a business incubator study in Peachtree Corners. Incubators provide real payback for communities by creating jobs and are a driving force in economic development.

 

Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy but typically nine out of 10 start-ups fail. The success rate is much greater if these entrepreneurs have a support system. And that's where an incubator steps in by offering a support system for entrepreneurial companies to help them survive and grow during the early start-up period.

 

Facts:

  • Incubators reduce the risk of failure: 87 percent of all firms that graduate from their incubators are still in business.
  • Research shows that for every $1 invested in an incubator, approximately $30 in local tax revenue is generated.
  • Young start-up companies that get their start in the community, tend to stay in the community.
  • They add jobs and stimulate economic development.

Business incubators have been around since 1959 but only in recent decades has the concept really advanced. According to the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA), there were nearly 1,400 programs in the U.S. as of 2006, up from just 12 in 1980.

 

They come in all shapes and sizes but most north American business incubators (about 93 percent) are nonprofit organizations focused on economic development with 37 percent focusing on technology business according to the National Business Incubator Association (NBIA).

 

To lay the ground work for a business incubator, the city and ATDC are conducting a community assessment to help determine if there is a solid market and find out if there is financial and community support. In the coming weeks, the study will begin by working with community stakeholders and others to learn whether the community will support an incubator.

 

To help roll out the initiative, we're inviting entrepreneurs, investors, community leaders and academics for an evening of conversation on how we can cultivate an environment that allows entrepreneurs to grow and thrive.

 

You are invited to attend An Evening of Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Peachtree Corners and Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute have come together in an effort to determine the community's readiness for a business incubator.

 

We are excited to announce our kickoff event will be May 14th at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast in Peachtree Corners. The evening will begin with a 6:00 p.m. networking reception which will be followed by a presentation on the business incubation process as well as a Q & A panel with local entrepreneurs.

 

Please click this link for more information and to register for An Evening of Entrepreneurship & Innovation. We hope to see you there.


Landscaping, Lighting, Sidewalks Among Winters Chapel Improvements

More than 60 residents from the cities of Dunwoody and Peachtree Corners turned out for a follow up meeting on Thursday, April 30, to learn more about the plans to improve the Winters Chapel Road corridor which winds through both cities.

 

A joint study was launched last November; Pond & Company, an urban planning engineering firm based in Peachtree Corners, was selected for the project. In the initial meeting held in February, residents were asked to provide their input on what improvements they would like to see for this busy corridor.

 

Improving pedestrian safety, increasing road safety and enhancing the appearance of the 2 ½ mile road that runs from Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to Spalding Drive topped residents' list.

 

"We've identified the issues, and worked on ways to unify the corridor," said Pond & Company's project manager Andrea Greco. "Both cities have the same vision for the area."

 

Read more ...

 

Building or Repairing Your Deck? 
Before you begin, check out this Q&A 

It's May and the weather is turning nice and our geese at City Hall have hatched and moved on to better things. As our minds drift to daydreams of outdoor activities, we cannot forget that May is Building Safety Month.

 

Building Safety Month started over 35 years ago as a way for local code officials to increase awareness about how construction codes improve and protect the places where we live, learn, work, worship and play. Together we all play a role in the effort to ensure that we are constructing safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient buildings and homes.

 

One way that we can honor Building Safety Month is to look at the construction of our outdoor living spaces, which at my house is the rear deck.

 

Decks are typically the one structure at your home that sees heavy season use, but is rarely inspected to confirm that it is structurally sound. In addition to the Georgia Prescriptive Deck Details, which is available for download through the State's Department of Consumer Affairs. The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) has a great website loaded with information for homeowners to verify the integrity of their decks.

 

To further assist you with your efforts to verifying that your deck is structural sound, the staff at the Peachtree Corners Building Division are available to answer questions here in the office or at your residence. Please call (678) 691-1207 to schedule a meeting.

 

Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) regarding decks:

 

Q: Do I need a permit to repair my residential deck?

 

A: For replacement of decking (walking surface) or stair treads we typically do not require a permit if the overall scope of work is minor in nature. If the repair is limited to 25% or less of the decking or stair treads, we treat this as seasonal maintenance and repairs. However, work involving structural support elements, stairs, handrails or guards will require a permit to verify code compliance. Please call the Building Division for guidance.

 

Q: Can I build a residential deck without a permit?

 

A: Decks built low to the ground do not require a permit, but are required to be constructed in compliance with the adopted codes. Meaning, a deck constructed with a walking surface that is 36" or lower to grade is exempt from a permit, but not from the requirements of the code.

 

Q: I want to add on to my current residential deck, will you require a permit?

 

A: Yes, a permit may be required. If the deck is not exempt from the permit process, we will require a permit.

 

Q: Can I build a small deck at my business without a permit?

 

A: No, for commercial properties a permit is required.

 

Don Wilkins, Building Official

[email protected]

New Sidewalks Planned for 

Winters Chapel Road

 

By this fall pedestrians who frequently walk along Winters Chapel Road between Spring Road and Winterbrook Court will find their walk a bit easier and safer. 

 

The city will begin construction of a sidewalk along this busy section of Winters Chapel Road where there is a good bit of foot traffic.

 

"The project involves adding new curb and gutter to allow for better drainage flow and improve maintenance capabilities," said Greg Ramsey, the city's Public Works Director.

 

"The project also includes the addition of a new pedestrian island and cross walk at Spring Drive to improve safety," said Ramsey.

 

The city will use a Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) from the Georgia Department of Transportation to construct the sidewalks.

 

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall.

 

Contact Public Works Director Greg Ramsey at [email protected] with any questions.

 



Leaves in the Gutter Make Peachtree Corners Shudder!

 

 

Throughout each year, the seasons create challenges for all of us to overcome. Whether it is constant spring rains, ice patches on the roads in winter, or the annual autumn leaf fall, we all have to deal with what nature throws at us. 

 

These seasonal conditions are also challenging for the stormwater drainage system. During the fall, leaves falling on the road are washed into storm drains. In a natural setting, those leaves would have stayed close to where they fell, but the suburban environment, complete with paved roads and parking lots, allow those leaves to be carried by runoff to the nearest storm drain. 

 

Then, in the spring and summer months when our lawns are mowed regularly, any grass clippings left on the road, or in our driveways, will wash with each rain into the stormwater drainage system.

 

Why does it matter? There are two main reasons:

  1. Nutrient Pollution - Nutrients are a good thing, right? Just like anything else, not in excess. Too many nutrients in a water body can lead to algae blooms, depleted oxygen levels, and sometimes fish kills.
  2. System Failure - Stormwater systems are open, and occasionally a large stick, or sticks, or a rock will get into the pipes and create snags. Leaves and grass can catch these snags and create a clog inside the pipes, leading to under-performance and perhaps localized flooding.

What can we do to prevent these problems with the stormwater drainage system? Don't add to the problem! Some leaves and grass clippings will get into the Stormwater drainage no matter what. However, if we don't add to the problem by blowing or dumping our yard waste into storm drains, the systems should be able to handle seasonal deposition.

 

If you see a resident or business discharging yard debris into part of the Stormwater drainage system, report the incident to the City of Peachtree Corners by visiting the city website at www.peachtreecornersga.gov, and choosing "Report a Problem - Fix It" under Quick Links.

 

Volunteers spent the morning of May 2 picking up litter along several major roads.

Great American Cleanup Gwinnett Challenge a Success

 

Nearly 30 volunteers participated in the annual event.

 

On Saturday, May 2, volunteers from around the city gathered to pick up litter and debris on city streets as part of the annual Great American Cleanup.

 

City leaders and citizens teamed up with the United Peachtree Corners Civic Association (UPCCA), who organized the event for the nation's largest annual community improvement program

 

Cleanup day by the numbers:

  • 29 - Volunteers
  • 3 - Miles of roadways cleaned
  • 31 - Trash bags filled
  • 300 - Average weight of bags

Thanks to Comcast Cares for joining up with Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful and UPCCA this year on this cleanup project.

 


Officer Shane Kelly, GCPD
How to Avoid Being a  Victim 
of a Crime

 


 

Stay alert! Criminals look for ways to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. Never give them a chance.

 

1. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid places or situations that can put you at risk.

2. Whenever you go out, try to travel with a friend or in a group.

3. Stick to well lit, well populated, high-traffic areas. Avoid walking in dark alleys, wooded areas, or vacant lots.

4. When walking to your car, have your keys in hand. You can hit your car alarm's panic button if approached.

5. If you are robbed, cooperate. Assess the situation and weigh your odds. Don't fight back unless it's absolutely necessary.

6. If a robber tells you he's armed, believe him! Don't jeopardize your personal safety over a few dollars.

7. Try to remember a good description of what the suspect looks like and call 911 (Emergency) immediately!

 

For questions contact Officer Shane Kelly #660 by email at [email protected] or by phone at 678-442-6572.

 

Have a question or comment about the newsletter?

Please contact Judy Putnam, Communications Director at [email protected] or by phone at 770-609-8821.


© 2014 City of Peachtree Corners, GA. All Rights Reserved.