Planning Services
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.
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Comprehensive Housing Plan Community Conversations
Embry Hills - Presidential Parkway & Surrounding Communities Placemaking Strategy Design Workshop #2
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Planning Commission -- 03/03/2026 @ 6:00 PM | Zoom
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Board of Commissioners Zoning Public Meeting -- 03/26/26 @ 5:30 PM | 178 Sams Street
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Zoning Board of Appeals -- 03/11/26 @ 1:00 PM | Zoom
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Historic Preservation Committee -- 03/16/26 @ 6:00 PM | Zoom
| | | Shape the Future of Arts & Culture | | Embry Hills - Presidential Parkway and Surrounding Communities Placemaking Strategy | |
The Embry Hills-Presidential Parkway & Surrounding Communities Placemaking Strategy is a study sponsored by DeKalb County seeking to strengthen this area’s unique identity through safer streets, accessible open space, catalytic development, and placemaking.
Meeting Recap
On February 12, 2026, the project meeting team held the first Design Workshop at the Mountain West Church (Chamblee Campus). Over 30 community members shared their priorities for the area, including what types of amenities are preferred for the study area.
Upcoming Engagement Opportunity
Design Workshop #2
We are still accepting feedback! Take our community survey and leave your mark on our idea wall.
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Aprell King
Planner
Email
| | Blueprint for Housing in DeKalb | | DeKalb County Comprehensive Housing Plan | |
DeKalb County is creating its first-ever Comprehensive Housing Plan to serve as a blueprint for addressing housing challenges across the community. The Comprehensive Housing Plan will address housing affordability, supply, and preservation needs to identify strategies that can alleviate housing pressures for existing residents and attract new residents to the county.
Upcoming Engagement Opportunity
Community Conversations
We are also accepting feedback through our Vision Wall!
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Eva Chauveau
Planner
Email
| | (Left to right) LaSonji Marshall, Shelly Bason, Janea Dix, Mara Wright, Eva Chauveau | | |
Community Ambassador Program
As we prepare our program for the next community (sneak peek: It is the Towers community!), we have also been preparing and launching the Community Ambassador program! On Wednesday, February 25th, we held the Community Ambassador Orientation session at 178 Sams Street. The Ambassador 101 Initiative is a program through the DeKalb Community Academy launched to strengthen public-private partnerships and empower communities.
Find out more information here: DeKalb Community Ambassador Program | Engage DeKalb
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LaSonji Marshall
Special Project Coordinator
Email
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Eva Chauveau
Planner
Email
| | DeKalb County Zoning & Sign Ordinance Rewrite | | |
DeKalb Zoning & Sign Ordinance Rewrite
Introducing Zone DeKalb — the County’s multi-year effort to modernize and simplify our zoning and sign ordinances. This project will help ensure future growth aligns with community priorities, the 2050 Unified Plan, and the needs of residents and businesses across DeKalb.
Want to understand what zoning is, why it matters, and how it impacts your everyday life? Visit the Zoning 101 section on our project webpage for a quick, easy breakdown.
Our team held the first virtual open house on January 27th. We invite you to view the recording on our project page, or click here.
Visit the project webpage to learn more and subscribe for project updates so you can stay in the loop on project activities and input opportunities.
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Yvonne Trammell
Special Project Coordinator
Email
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| | Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordinance | The Short-Term Rental ordinance was approved on July 24, 2025. The ordinance will not go into effect until May 20, 2026. Information on the ordinance and the next steps will be available on Engage DeKalb Short-Term Rentals: DeKalb County | Engage DeKalb. | | | | Now Online - The Data Center Text Amendment! | | |
Land Use Regulations for Data Centers
The updated draft of the Data Center Text Amendment is now available for viewing on Engage DeKalb.
The Data Center Moratorium has been extended till June 23rd, 2026.
Public Hearing Opportunities
For more information, we encourage you to visit Engage DeKalb, send us questions, or join the public hearings at the Board of Commissioners meeting on May 12th, 2026.
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Tricia Prevost
Senior Planner
Email
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Eva Chauveau
Planner
Email
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Georgia Arbor Day - EMBARC Tree Planting Recap
The EMBARC Youth Farm hosted a tree planting in celebration of Arbor Day with the Drake School Kindergarten on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
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DeKalb County Scrap Tire Amnesty Day
Saturday, March 21 & Saturday, March 28 | 8 AM - 2 PM
DeKalb County Tax Commissioner's Office (4380 Memorial Drive)
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FREE EVENT open to DeKalb County residents. Commercial businesses are not allowed.
- Valid DeKalb County Driver's License Required.
- No dumping outside of event hours
- Accepted tires: Passenger vehicle tires (cars, SUVs, light trucks)
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TIRE LIMITS: 10 tires per vehicle. Limits may apply if capacity is reached.
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Recycling Right
Donate your unwanted clothes for reuse and recycling. Need help finding a drop-off location? Try one of these resources:
And remember, don't place household items like clothes, appliances, and toys in with your recyclables.
#recyclerightga #letssortthisoutanddonate
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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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Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 9 AM - 12 PM | +65 Locations
Sweep the Hooch returns for the 16th year! This watershed-wide trash cleanup brings together hundreds of volunteers at dozens of parks, tributaries, and access points along the Chattahoochee River each year. Many sites are located in DeKalb County, where volunteers can help clean up tributaries of the 'Hooch. Click on the link for important registration information and to sign up for a cleanup site near you.
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Looking for free wood chips near you?
ChipDrop finds local tree companies working in your area and notifies them that you would like some wood chips or logs (or both). The next time their truck is full, they can pull up your information and deliver the wood chips straight to your driveway, even if you're at work.
| | | Project Manager: Nicole Marchant | |
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.
| | | Project Manager: Nicole Marchant | |
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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2026 Elections in DeKalb County
DeKalb County voters will see two different elections this spring, each serving a different purpose. Here’s what to expect and which offices are included in each election:
March 10, 2026 - Special Election
- Georgia House District 94 only (Click here to see if you are in District 94)
- Vacancy in the Georgia House of Representatives, General Assembly
May 19, 2026 - Georgia General Primary
- All DeKalb County voters
- Federal, statewide, state legislature, Public Service Commission, and Local DeKalb County Offices are on the ballot
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DeKalb School District Survey
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has embarked on a comprehensive and aligned Student Assignment Project (SAP) to reimagine DCSD as it relates to programs, boundaries, and buildings using more complete data analysis, with a cadence to review every five years to align with ESPLOST.
The DeKalb County School District’s Student Assignment Project (SAP) is entering a critical phase. Before sharing your feedback through the SAP Scenario Survey, we encourage you to take a few moments to understand why this work is happening, what the process looks like, and how the scenarios were developed.
| | | Welcome to our New Staff! | |
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Whitney Fuller - Current Planning Administrator
Originally from the beautiful Golden Isles of Brunswick, Georgia—by way of Los Angeles—Whitney holds degrees in Business Economics and Public Policy/Urban Planning from Georgia Southern University and Georgia State University. She has spent years advancing transformative regional initiatives, including work supporting the Atlanta BeltLine, the Atlanta Regional Commission, MARTA, and the City of Atlanta.
Her experience spans infrastructure and transportation planning, housing and economic development strategy, long-range planning, zoning, community engagement, and arts & culture.
Whitney is a passionate DeKalb County resident and a proud mom to a 7-year-old son enrolled in DeKalb County Public Schools.
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Aarya More - GIS Specialist
Aarya More holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Mumbai, India, and has recently earned her Master's in Urban Design from Georgia Tech. Aarya is passionate about data-driven strategies and collaborative processes that shape thoughtful, long-term urban solutions. Aarya's interests also lie in understanding how design, policy, and community voices intersect to create inclusive and resilient places.
Outside of work, Aarya enjoys visiting museums and exploring how art and public spaces reflect the identity of a city.
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Kidest Mulat - Planner
Kidest Mulat holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Planning and Economic Development, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy. During her time with Clayton County, she contributed to major initiatives such as the Economic Mobility Plan and workforce development strategies tied to land use.
Kidest also brings experience as a Team Lead Employment Specialist at a refugee-serving organization, where she supported workforce integration and helped connect individuals and families to employment opportunities. Her background reflects a strong interest in equitable growth, community empowerment, and planning that connects people to opportunity.
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