22 minute read
Christ the King Craft Fair Returns for Its 35th Year
Christ the King Lutheran Craft Fair is a nonprofit fundraising craft fair that takes place annually in Peachtree Corners and is sponsored by Christ the King Church Women’s League. It sells a host of handmade crafts and baked goods.
By Ivy Marie Clarke
This year, the fair will be celebrating 35 years of crafting for the community on Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Nov. 6 from 9 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church.
Christ the King Lutheran Craft Fair grows every year but remains a constant, fun opportunity to support local, charitable, faithbased causes including Norcross Co-op (which provides emergency assistance to families in Southwest Gwinnett), The Next Stop (creating community for adults with developmental disabilities), Interfaith Outreach Home (working to connect houseless families with housing resources) and Inspiritus (helping people from various disruptive life paths move towards healing and security). Crafting for others
The fair is possible due to the dedication of the Crafty Ladies, made up of mostly Christ the King Lutheran Church members who gather twice a week to brainstorm and craft together throughout the year in preparation for the annual craft fair.
Group members are not required to be churchgoers or to craft exclusively with the Crafty Ladies; they must only be willing to donate their skills and time to the fair.
The fair is also supported by another craft group that meets bimonthly at the Christ the King Lutheran Church called Knitting for the Needs of Others, known as KNOTS. KNOTS members knit and teach knitting, but crocheting is also welcome.
They primarily knot for the Norcross Co-op and make baby
Images from previous years courtesy of Christ the King Lutheran Church. Some of the photos are by Stephanie Walters Logue
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blankets for children baptized at Christ the King Lutheran Church. They also make hats, scarves and gloves for the Christ the King Craft Fair and donate anything that doesn’t sell. Shop for yourself or for holiday gifts
The products available at the fair are as plentiful and diverse as the organizations that your purchases support. Dozens of vendors will be selling home and kitchen goods and decor as well as clothing for children and adults, beauty products, jewelry, accessories and plushies.
Many of the vendors’ wares will be Christmas and fall-themed, with wreaths, ornaments and table and mantle decorations lining the booth tables.
You can also expect to smell — and taste! — deliciousness in the form of brownies, cookies and pies at the Bake Sale. There will be food and drink available in addition to pastries, so you can lunch while you shop.
Though there won’t be a silent auction or online component to this year’s fair, attendees can enjoy a used book sale, free kids crafts and a quilt raffle.
Crafty Lady Lisa Bergstresser started contributing to the craft fair when she moved to Peachtree Corners two years ago, and she spoke to its value to herself and the community.
“It is for the community and for charity,” Bergstresser said. “It creates growth within our church and community as we get to know each other and satisfaction knowing we are helping organizations who help those in need.”
Plan to get started on your Christmas shopping at Christ the King Craft Fair. While you shop for your loved ones, you’ll be helping critical community organizations that experience heavier pressure during the holiday seasons.
For further details, contact fair chairman Marlaine Hysell at 678-852-8679 or follow the event’s Facebook page, facebook.com/CTKcraftfair/. ■
The Continued Evolution of Town Center Recreation New Playground and Planned Tot Lot –August 2022
From the Mayor’s Desk Opened in 2019, the Peachtree Corners Town Center has continued to be a hot spot in the City. Over the years, it has continued to develop into a center of activity for our residents and visitors. What opened with retail stores and restaurants The Continued Evolution of Town Center use center that includes residential homes, entertainment venues, and recreation
Recreation – New Playground and Planned Tot Lot
Most recently, the City opened our new Town Center Playground. This playground was designed to be a one-of-a-kind at would not only provide a play haven for our children but would also represent the City. This newest feature of the Town Green has been tailored to serve children that are 5 to 12 years old by offering unique e challenging and promote an increased amount of physical activity. Additionally, the playground was designed to be fully inclusive, features a wheelchair We-Go-Swing, and offers equipment to appeal to equipment, and multiple textures. The playground is equipped with two pieces that specifically stand out when you approach it. One is the Peachtree Corners Tower. The design of the tower mimics the design of the Pedestrian Bridge that spans highway 141 between the Town Center and The Forum Peachtree Corners. This symbol has become an icon in the city and is The equipment features two slides, a climbing The second piece of equipment is the Quantis. The installation of this piece of equipment at the playground represents only the third installation in the United Quantis features an incredible figure-eight shape that is maxed out with fun from top to bottom. This innovative net system allows for unscripted, above and below the apparatus. While a lot of fun can and should be had at this new playground, safety is of the utmost importance and there are a few years old. Equipment should never be used counter to its design. Remove any clothing that includes hood and/or neck drawstrings
Opened in 2019, the Peachtree Corners Town Center has continued to be a hot spot in the City. Over the years, it has continued to develop into a center of activity for our residents and visitors. What opened with retail stores and restaurants has now developed into a fully mixed-use center that includes residential homes, entertainment venues, and recreation opportunities.
Most recently, the City opened our new Town Center Playground. This playground was designed to be a one-of-a-kind facility that would not only provide a play haven for our children but would also represent the City.
This newest feature of the Town Green has been tailored to serve children that are 5 to 12 years old by offering unique play features that are not only fun but are challenging and promote an increased amount of physical activity. Additionally, the playground was designed to be fully inclusive, features a wheelchair We-Go-Swing, and offers equipment to appeal to those with autism including sensory panels, balance equipment, and multiple textures.
The playground is equipped with two pieces that specifically stand out when you approach it. One is the Peachtree Corners Tower. The design of the tower mimics the design of the Pedestrian Bridge that spans highway 141 between the Town Center and The Forum Peachtree Corners. This symbol has become an icon in the city and is carried through on the playground. The equipment features two slides, a climbing structure, stairs, and two towers.
The second piece of equipment is the Quantis. The installation of this piece of equipment at the playground represents only the third installation in the United States. The Quantis features an incredible figure-eight shape that is maxed out with fun from top to bottom. This innovative net system allows for unscripted, infinite play above and below the apparatus.
While a lot of fun can and should be had at this new playground, safety is of the utmost importance and there are a few things that parents and guardians should know. 1. The age recommended age for play is 5 to 12 years old. 2. Children should always be supervised. 3. Equipment should never be used counter to its design. 4. Footwear should always be worn. 5. Remove any clothing that includes hood and/ or neck drawstrings As we continue to provide additional recreational opportunities in Town Center and at the Town Green, the City has begun the process of developing a tot lot play area that will be designed specifically for children under the age of five. While we do not have a firm timeline, the City is targeting late fall/ early winter for design completion. Following design, bids will be released for the construction of the area.
While not yet determined, tot lots predominately feature a variety of play equipment including swings, slides, jungle gyms, geodesic domes, teeter totters, and play equipment specially designed for kids aged under 5. These features encourage such activities as climbing, swinging, spinning, sliding, balancing, jumping, hanging, creative play, crawling, and hiding.
The future addition of a tot lot to the new playground and Fitness Trail at the Town Green will provide fun, engaging, high-energy play options for all Peachtree Corners residents, regardless of age.
Stay safe,
Mike Mason, Mayor
Mike Mason, Mayor
Gwinnett County’s newest and largest city, Peachtree Corners, was founded July 1, 2012 and is located along the Chattahoochee River in the southwest corner of the county. The city is home to over 45,000 residents and 3,000 businesses.
Peachtree Corners City Hall
Urban Canopee, Curiosity Lab’s Newest Occupant, Adds Greenery to Concrete Areas – Starting with Peachtree Corners
Peachtree Corners is the first place in the United States to receive an innovative and hightech structure intended to cool down urban areas by greening them up. Called a corolle, the modular, vegetation-covered formation is the creation of French technology company Urban Canopee (urbancanopee.com), which has chosen Curiosity Lab of Peachtree Corners as its launch pad into North America.
The company learned about Curiosity Lab through the French-American Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta-Southeast and La French Tech Atlanta, which moved operations to the Innovation Center at Curiosity Lab in 2021. La French Tech is a French network of startups, investors, decision-makers, and community builders. This is the first startup joining Curiosity Lab through La French Tech.
Curiosity Lab increasingly attracts tech startups and larger technology organizations from around the globe. Many come to test their smart city and intelligent mobility solutions in a real-world environment, and/or in the case of Urban Canopee, to gain proximity to American markets that may have use of their particularly innovative technology.
“During our worldwide expansion, we wanted to come to the United States because so many of its modern, concrete-covered cities experience the urban heat island phenomenon. We can help tackle that issue with our green technology,” said Loïs Lenhardt, technical studies engineer for Urban Canopee. “The Atlanta area seemed like a good place to start.”
Peachtree Corners’ Town Center is also now home to a Mini Corolle – also called a Mini Canopee – from Urban Canopee. This product contains a steel-covered fiberglass base sprouting a mesh cylindrical, upward-and-outward-spreading canopy overlaid with climbing plants. When the plants mature, the Mini Canopee, equipped with its own irrigation system, will provide 215 square feet of shade to help create a cool place where summers are hot and provide additional biodiversity in the Town Center.
“Urban Canopee is committed to bringing vegetation to areas of cities where you could not plant trees because of underground networks, parking decks, subways, and areas covered in concrete,” said Lenhardt, who works at the offices of the French American Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta-Southeast, at Curiosity Lab’s Innovation Center.
Creating oases of freshness in cities
Increasingly long and intense heatwave episodes, growing air pollution, loss of biodiversity, and reduced availability of water are just some of the reasons why Urban Canopee aims to spruce up streetscapes while making cities cooler, more resilient, and more environmentally sustainable. Its technology-enabled low-carbon, energy, and water-efficient solutions are the company’s way to combat the effects of climate change while improving the quality of life for urban dwellers.
The company provides a range of structures from the Mini Canopee, with a low-tech irrigation system, to its 500-square-foot Contrario and Olympe Canopee models, both of which include a high-tech irrigation system called a Sensopee. The setup of a structure takes one day or less.
Before delving into the state-ofthe-art Sensopee, each structure contains a small amount of substrate that relies on water to help the plants grow. The Mini Canopee’s passive watering reserve will need to be filled with close to two gallons of water a week – but doesn’t need to connect to the city’s water system.
The larger systems use the hightech Sensopee, a smart irrigation system within the structure relying on sensors and weather-based technology to keep moisture levels optimal. Its algorithm optimizes the best conditions and water consumption to help plant roots grow. Urban Canopee employees
monitor when soil is dry, and the water reserve is empty. When either or both occur, they text the customer that it’s time to refill the water reserve – about once a month during hotter seasons and once every two or three months when temperatures cool.
In addition to the one in Peachtree Corners, Urban Canopee has installed 164 other
self-standing, autonomous green structures in 63 countries in Europe, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Australia.
Expanding its line of green products for urban areas
While in the states, Lenhardt hopes to generate interest and momentum so others will consider purchasing or offering the company’s canopies to customers. Potential partners include municipalities, landscape architecture firms, or any organization dealing with engineering greenspaces. In fact, Urban Canopee relies on such partnerships for its optional maintenance plans in which a local landscape company, for instance, would weed, mulch, fertilize, stake, and prune the plant structure three times a year.
In the next couple of years, Urban Canopee plans to use the same technology comprised in its corolles to add green, vegetation-covered roofs and facades to its line of products.
“Our canopies bring movable vegetation to urban areas and add significant value and a better quality of life,” Lenhardt said. “We hope to have several more of them in North America by the end of the year.”
Keep up with our latest trips and innovations
If you are interested in learning more about Curiosity Lab’s real-world testing environment or scheduling a tour, please reach out to us here. Testing is free and open to all technology companies from startups to Fortune 500.
To stay in the know, subscribe to Curiosity Lab’s blog by entering your email address at curiositylabptc.com/contact/. You will be notified when Curiosity Labs posts content each week about smart city & intelligent mobility projects being tested at the Lab, events, announcements, and more.
Be sure to follow us on social: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. *Heat islands are found in urbanized areas that have higher temperatures than outlying areas. This is because city structures, including buildings, sidewalks, and roads, absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than forests, water bodies, and other natural landscapes.
The Crime Free Multi-Housing Program: What is it and how does Peachtree Corners participate?
Over the past few years, Peachtree Corners has been working to enhance security throughout the city. These enhancements have included the installation of license plate reading cameras, enhanced security camera placement on city property, the creation of a police sub-station at Town Center, and increasing our partnership with the Gwinnett County Police Department.
One of the programs that the City participates in with the GCPD is the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program (CFMHP). This free program, implemented by GCPD in 2012, is offered in partnership with the GCPD to property owners, property managers, residents, and law enforcement personnel to work towards the elimination of crime in multi-family properties.
The City believes so much in this program, that participation in the CFMPH is included as a zoning condition for all new multi-family and mixed-use developments. While there are some older complexes that predate implementation of the program, the City, in partnership with GCPD, continues to encourage those properties to participate.
The CFMHP has a goal of reducing the number of violent crimes and calls-for-service in multi-family properties. The three-part program is designed to be easy and effective in reducing the incidence of crime on rental properties while maintaining a tenant-friendly approach.
The phases of the program are a required seminar, certification of a property’s safety controls, and an introduction of the program to the tenants via community awareness training.
For the first phase, an 8-hour seminar is presented by GCPD to property owners, managers, and in some cases residents. The seminar includes such topics as crime prevention theory, the benefits of resident screening, lease agreements and eviction issues, working smarter with police, fire, and life safety training, and community awareness. Additionally, the seminar covers issues relating to gangs, drug activity, and crime prevention.
Following the seminar, the rental property must complete a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Survey (CPTED). This survey will allow GCPD to determine and certify that a rental property has met all the requirements for tenant safety. Requirements that must be met include compliance with the following:
■ Minimum door, window, and lock standards ■ Minimum exterior lighting standards ■ Key Control procedures ■ Landscape maintenance standards
Following the certification of the property, GCPD offers the final phase of the program, which is the introduction of the program to the tenants through community awareness training. The completion of this phase allows for full certification and permits the location to include signage of completion of the program on the property, grants management use of the program’s logo on advertisements, and lists the property as certified on the GCPD CFMHP webpage.
After a property is fully certified, a multi-unit family development must host one safety-related crime prevention meeting with the residents per year to maintain their active membership in the Crime Free Multi-Housing program. This certificate expires every 18 months unless it is renewed following compliance with Phases I and II.
Participation in the program offers many benefits to multi-family developments. In some properties where the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program has been implemented, there has been a reduction in crime of up to 70 percent. Additionally, the program increases safety, helps to lower maintenance and repair costs, increases property values, and provides for a stable and more satisfied tenant base. This in turn leads to an increased demand for rental units within the development by improving the reputation of the complex.
We are all aware that when the rate of crime increases in any area, neighborhoods suffer, and landlords, tenants, and our City pay a high price. High rates of crime lead to a large decline in property values, increased incidents of property damage, potential civil penalties on property owners, loss of valued residents, and increased resentment and anger between neighbors and property managers.
As we continue to move into the future, the City will continue to focus on the health and safety of our residents and businesses. We are currently working on additional partnerships and programs that will help publicize that crime and criminals have no place in Peachtree Corners.
How Do I Obtain a Building Permit? Town Green Dos and Don’ts
If you are planning a building or remodeling project in the City of Peachtree Corners, chances are you will need to apply for a building permit. Applications for building permits are required to be submitted for installations regulated by the Georgia State Minimum Building Codes if any owner or authorized agent intends to: ■ construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure ■ erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system
The building staff reviews building plans and inspects all residential and commercial structures built or remodeled within the City. Permits issued include, but are not limited to, the following: ■ buildings and accessory structures ■ decks/porches ■ pools/spas ■ demolition ■ interior finishes ■ remodeling and additions ■ retaining walls ■ Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, roofing, or other specialty trade ■ any additional permits required
Depending on your type of project, you or your contractor will need to submit the appropriate applications and forms to obtain a building permit. You will be able to submit electronically. You will find the link on our building website. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Building Permits (residential and commercial)
■ Building Permit Application (pools and retaining walls have separate applications and requirements) ■ If not submitted electronically, 2 sets of site plans and architectural drawings (drawn to scale) submitted to the permit counter ■ State of Georgia Contractors license and business license ■ Trade affidavits with required license
*All commercial projects require a design professional stamped drawing and a Gwinnett Fire stamp of approval on all plans PRIOR to submission. Food service establishments also require a Health stamp of approval from Gwinnett Environmental Health.
Trade Permits (such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc.)
■ Trade Permit Application ■ Business License ■ State of Georgia Trade Contractors License (not required for Limited-Service Specialty Contractors)
A homeowner may act as a general contractor for their own property by submitting a Homeowner Affidavit in person, with proof of residency (you must live in the home as a full-time resident).
Building permit fees vary according to the type and size of construction. General building permit fees are usually based on the valuation of the project, but always in accordance with the adopted schedule of fees located on our website.
Building permits are required by City ordinance. Work without a permit may be subject to removal or other costly remedies. In addition, permits help protect property values and homeowners’ insurance policies may not pay for damages caused by work done without a permit. Lastly, when it comes time to sell your home, listing associations require owners to disclose any home improvements or repairs and whether permits were obtained. Many financial institutions will not finance a purchase without proof of a final inspection.
For a more detailed list of submittal requirements and access to our forms, please visit our website at https://www.peachtreecornersga.gov/government/community-development/building-permitting. Building permits are accepted Monday - Friday 9am to 4pm at City Hall, 310 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092.
As we continue to move into the fall and our event season, we want to remind everyone that the Town Green is a great place to get together with family and friends. The Town Green, designed as space for outdoor activities, includes an active water feature, open-air pavilion, café tables, fire pit, projection screen, open lawn, playable art, and a 2,500 square-foot veterans’ monument that features seven sculptures.
As a community space, there are a few rules that have been put in place to ensure the park can be enjoyed by everyone.
The Town Green is a public park open to the community every day of the year from sunrise to 11 PM. As a public park, the Town Green (including the lawn, stage, splash pad, shade structures, play areas, tables, and chairs) is not available to rent or reserve for private events. Small private parties of no more than 15 people may utilize the Town Green without reservations on a first-come, first-served basis provided that all furniture is returned to its ‘before’ event placement and all trash is removed.
Gender reveal parties or any celebration that produces or use confetti, chalk dust, or similar residue is prohibited.
Town Green Rules
1. Town Center is open every day from 7 am to 11 pm (No overnight camping is allowed) 2. Leave things as you found them. (Pick up after yourself and anyone you brought with you Return furniture from where you got it) 3. Behave as if your mother is watching 4. Don’t bring prohibited items: a. Glass bottles and glass containers of any kind b. Barbecue grills c. Fireworks, sparklers, and candles d. Smoking, vaping, and all tobacco products e. Illegal substances and drugs f. Sound amplifiers g. Only for ‘Last Saturday of The Month’ concerts: No Pets (except service animals) and no coolers larger than 12 quarts (up to 18 can capacity) [Both pets and larger coolers are allowed at other times] h. Motorized vehicles including scooters and golf carts (unless used by individuals with mobility impairments or with permission from the City for special events) 5. Don’t stake or attach items to the ground or to fixtures. Items such as umbrellas, tents, tiki torches, signs, etc. are prohibited 6. Leave your mark on the world, but not on the Town Green: don’t use chalk, crayons, markers, etc. on any surface
Guests are expected to behave respectfully and in accordance with Town Green policy, and state and local laws. Any guest acting in a manner that is deemed unsafe can be subject to eviction.
