City Council priorities

Brookhaven council discusses 2022 priorities

BY SAMMIE PURCELL

Greenspace and connectivity were discussed as major priorities for the upcoming year during a Brookhaven City Council panel discussion at the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor John Ernst and three other council members discussed what they plan to prioritize in their districts during the panel, which took place on Feb. 17. District 2 Councilmember John Park was not present due to a work conflict. Mayor John Ernst

Ernst said in 2022 there will be a focus on the city’s new Special Services District.

The council voted to create the special tax district in December. The district would have certain business owners pay more property taxes to fund infrastructure improvements in the city, and the council reviewed a draft list of projects in February.

The next steps involve a public engagement process to help decide which projects might be funded through the special district.

“That’s going to be a big, major push this next year, picking projects and moving them forward,” Ernst said.

He also discussed the city’s handling of the pandemic, including the decision to allow expanded outdoor dining after the state lifted some COVID-19 restrictions in April of 2020, and the designation of $725,000 of federal funding to help residents who had fallen behind on rent. Councilmember Linley Jones, District 1

Councilmember Linley Jones said that during 2022, she wanted to prioritize greenspace and connectivity, particularly a multi-use along Ashford Dunwoody Road.

“We are going to be filling in the gaps in the path … that is going to run all the way from Peachtree all the way up to I-285,” Jones said.

Jones also said the city would be looking to acquire more greenspace for District 1.

“We are continuing to put in additional pieces of path, additional pieces of sidewalk, additional pieces of trail, in various locations so you can get from point A to point B,” Jones said.

Jones also briefly discussed the location for the city’s new City Hall building, but said no decisions have yet been made. Councilmember Madeleine Simmons, District 3

Councilmember Madeleine Simmons said she would like to focus on two parks, Brookhaven Park and Langford Park.

Brookhaven passed a $40 million park bond in 2018, which included improvements for Brookhaven Park. However, work was delayed due to a dispute between the city and county. The western portion of the park is owned by the city, while DeKalb County owns the eastern part. The city has been trying to purchase the county’s half of the park for years, and sued the county in January of 2021 to try and force it to transfer ownership.

“We’re hopeful that the case is going to resolve and we’re able to beautify the park this year,” Simmons said.

The city purchased the property at 1174 Pine Grove Ave., now known as Langford Park, in April of 2020 and began the planning process for the park in June of 2021.

“We’ve been working very diligently with the city administration to identify funding to be able to develop that park into a pavilion and a playground and a place where people can gather,” Simmons said.

She also discussed Brookhaven’s City Centre project, which is expected to go for approval on March 22 and aims to create a framework for a downtown area and guide future developments along Peachtree Road. Councilmember John Funny, District 4

Councilmember John Funny talked about preserving the cultural identity of the Buford Highway area.

Brookhaven adopted a resolution to designate Buford Highway as a cultural hub of the city at a Jan. 11 council meeting.

“We want to make certain that Buford Highway receives the appropriate development or redevelopment of areas that can retain our international brothers and sisters,” Funny said.

Funny also said that the city is looking to increase connectivity and park space in District 4.

The first mile of the Peachtree Creek Greenway opened in December of 2019, and Funny said the second phase is currently in design. The third phase of the Peachtree Creek Greenway, which would extend the trail from Briarwood Road to the Chamblee city line, is one of the projects that could receive funding from the Special Services District.

Funny also said that the city’s new public safety building is expected to be completed on June 30. The new building will be located at 1793 Briarwood Road and will house the city’s police department and municipal court.

Photo by Paula Heller

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