The Tucker City Council voted 6-1 on Aug. 11 to tighten restrictions on drive-through facilities in several defined areas, but eliminated some supplemental changes made between first and second read.
According to a staff memo, in the downtown area (DT-2), it would remove the option for a Special Land Use Permit for restaurants, thus making it a prohibited use. In the Northlake area, it would remove the option for a SLUP in the NL-2 and NL-3 areas. For Lawrenceville Highway, the SLUP option would be removed in LH-3 area. In other areas that are defined as city-wide, it would require a SLUP.
The council looked at two options, one with extra stipulations that were introduced at the July 14 meeting, and one that approves the changes to the use table and definitions only without adapting the supplemental changes. The second version also ends the moratorium and allows time to discuss possible changes as part of a future text amendments.
Several council members and public speakers expressed concerns about the supplemental regulations regarding landscaping, setbacks and distance separations between drive-through restaurants and residential properties at the July 14 meeting, and voted to defer the matter until the August meeting.
Council member Vinh Nguyen made a motion on the first version, but it failed to get a second. The second version passed 6-1, with Nguyen as the dissenting vote.
The council also voted 6-1 to establish a city marshal’s office, with a projected start date of Nov. 1. Council member Alexis Weaver was the dissenting vote.
The office would be responsible for court and city security, warrant service, and
enforcement of municipal ordinances, according to a presentation made by Derrick Turner, the city’s assistant city manager.
Duties would include:
• Courtroom and judicial security
• Service of warrants and subpoenas
• Transport of prisoners
• Enforcement of municipal codes
• Other duties assigned by the court or city administration
In other action, the council heard an update from several staff members regarding the progress made on Tucker Town Green construction.
Public Works Director Ishri Sankar reported that all affected utilities have completed their overhead-to-underground relocation, stormwater infrastructure has been completed, new streetlights have been wired and installed by Georgia Power, and concrete work on walkways are about 65 percent complete.
In the next month, fountain waterproofing and tiling, the formation of the Second Street entrance, and turf installation and climbing mound work will begin, along with landscaping preparation.
Sankar said the park will be essentially complete by Oct. 22, but not ready for public consumption. A grand opening will be scheduled after that date.
Community Development Director Courtney Smith said more enhancements are being considered, including a cleanup of the south side of Railroad Avenue, the installation of public art, and a possible extension of the city’s entertainment district boundaries.
Other enhancements Sankar announced include potential Second Street improvements to ensure pedestrian safety and easier vehicle egress and ingress.
Tucker Assistant to the City Manager Micah Siebel discussed SMART Light technology at the park that could be expanded throughout the city for targeted uses. A proposal on the expenditure will come before council at a future meeting.
In other action, the council:
- approved a resolution to participate in the Trees Atlanta Front Yard Tree Program for one year;
- approved a contact with R & B Developer, Inc. for $1.5 million plus a 5 percent contingency of $78,816.45 to connect two parts of Richardson Street and make intersection improvements at E. Ponce De Leon Avenue;
- awarded a contract to MHB Paving, Inc. f $2,148,174.37, plus a 5 percent contingency of $107,000 for fall paving.
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