The Mayor
ROCHELLE ROBINSON
I can’t believe we are already in August - this summer has flown by! I hope your summer has been filled with barbeques, relax-
Doulgasville Community Development Team
ation, and fun. Here at the city of Douglasville, we have remained busy working hard on a lot of different projects. This month I want to focus on our Community Development department. So many different sections make up this department, some that
Connectivity is something that is important
star Pediatric Expansion, Tru Hotel, Douglas
to a lot of you, and these plans will help us
County High School Sports Complex, and
improve that.
many more!
Our last department is Economic Devel-
you may have never realized. Patrice Wil-
Mike and his team make sure that the
opment, managed by Aaron Szarowicz, Eco-
liams serves as the Director of Community
building process goes smoothly, and that
nomic Development Manager. This division
Development, a position she’s held since
builders and developers stick to the plans
provides information for people who wish to
July 2018, and she oversees the day to day
they submitted and had approved.
open a business in Douglasville and recruits
operations and all the subsections of the department. You might all be wondering what it takes to bring new development to our city. One of the divisions that is crucial in this process is the Zoning Division, led by Zoning Ad-
Code Enforcement is another division that makes sure that people are doing what they need to. Ebony Jefferson is the Code Compliance Manager and supervises a team of three who make sure that all buildings and
ministrator Ryan Anderson. This division is
areas of the city are up to code and not in vi-
responsible for making sure that everyone
olation. They keep the city looking great and
has the right permits for buildings, special
we are thankful they provide this service!
events, and signs. They also are the main point of contact whenever someone wants to rezone a part of the city. If you want to build something inside the Douglasville city limits, you will work with this next division. Mike Mettler oversees the
new businesses to choose us as their location. We have had numerous new businesses in the city open over the past year. This includes: Kuumba Coffee, Tito’s Lounge, Place of Kai, Just Because Balloons and Gifts, Gritz Brunch Bar, and Broad Street Station. I highly recommend visiting and supporting these local businesses! Also, within this division is the Main Street Program, run by Briea-
You may not know this, but a crucial part
na Watts, Main Street Coordinator. Brieana
of any city is planning, and this division is
works to amplify and spotlight downtown
also housed in Community Development.
and bring events, businesses, and other
April McKown, our Planning Manager, runs
activities to promote visiting Downtown
this division. Throughout the past year, we
Douglasville.
have adopted a Comprehensive Transporta-
I hope that you have enjoyed getting to
tion Plan, a Bike and Pedestrian Connectiv-
know our Community Development Depart-
rienced the pandemic in 2020, development
ity Plan, and a Northside Trails Plan. While
ment through this article. They work so hard
in the city has continued to increase. Ac-
this may seem like a lot of plans, this helps
to make Douglasville the best place and we
tive construction in the city includes a few
us map out where we are headed over the
are proud of the work they do. I can’t wait to
apartments, retail shops at Arbor Square,
next few years and how we can improve.
see where they take us next!
Building Department. They review plans and oversee active construction. While we expe-
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including Five Guys and Starbucks, Well-
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