Zoning Review Board - Regular Meeting

Thank you. you you Thank you.

Good morning, everyone. I am Mary Norwood. I am the chair of the Zoning Committee. I am joined by my colleagues. To my left, Councilman Martin and Councilman Worthy. To my right, Councilman Westmoreland, Councilwoman Collins, Councilwoman Bakhtiari, and Councilwoman Bond. We constitute a quorum, and so I call the meeting to order. Before we start, even with the adoption of the agenda, I want to make two announcements. One will come from our law department in just a moment, who will explain the process that a zoning paper goes through and when public comment that particular zoning issue is allowed the second thing I want to explain because I think it's very important this committee has been asked each member individually to hold this paper whether or not we make that decision today is our decision to make but I want you to know that there is a possibility that this paper will not go forward today so I just want you to know that that may impact our how long you want to be here, what you want to do. It will be the first item on the agenda, so we will come to that decision relatively soon. But I wanted you to know that before even starting the meeting. So now, Madam Attorney, if you would explain the rules.

Yes, good morning. Amber A. Robinson, City of Atlanta Department of Law. In accordance with the state's zoning procedures law, a public hearing on any particular zoning action is for the City of Atlanta at the Zoning Review Board. That is the time to hear public comment concerning any pending zoning action. Accordingly, public comment is not in order concerning any pending zoning action at the zoning committee here today or the full council meeting thereafter. So in accordance with that, any public comment concerning a matter that is on this agenda is not in order.

So to be clear, you may certainly come to the mic. You may talk in generalities. And we welcome that. But the specific issue is not permissible. So I don't want anyone to be unhappy that those are the rules that we have to abide by. So the next item on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda and moved by Councilman Westmoreland, seconded by Councilwoman Collins. Can we please open that vote?

The vote is open. The vote is closed, seven yeas, zero nays. The agenda is adopted.

The next item is the approval of the minutes. Can I have a motion to approve the minutes? Second. Motion by Martin, seconded by Collins. Can we please open that vote?

The vote is open. The vote is closed, seven yeas, zero nays. The minutes are approved.

Thank you. And now we go to public comment. And the first one to speak on this list, we're going by the list that we have, is Matt Garbutt.

MATT GARPUT. I just want to I just want to thank all of you for your service on the council and on this committee. I think that zoning committee is the most important committee. I'm 50 years old and the house that I live in and the neighborhood that I live in were built before my grandparents were born. Every single decision y'all make here impacts people for generations. I also want to thank everyone here for their responsiveness regarding emails to you and asking questions. Thank you all, and that's it.

No, no, no. We're not doing clapping. We're not doing...

I get entrance music. I get clapping. No.

No, we are... We want to hear everyone, and so we are going to abide by the rules. Sometimes people don't, but I'm a big stickler. Adrian Prowler, you are next.

Hi, thank you so much for listening to me today. I appreciate the role that the zoning committee has in making policies that truly support transit-oriented development. transit oriented development is absolutely necessary for us to live in a city that's expected to double in population and so um so please please support policies that support transit oriented development especially in struggling neighborhoods like um west end and adair park thank you thank you next we have sandra henley

hi I'd just like to say I am a resident of Atlanta and I support the redevelopment of Southwest Atlanta thank you next is Tyrone Clemons

Good morning, everyone. Tyrone Clemons. I'm a resident of Pittsburgh. I want to thank you all for your service. And I want to come up here to speak to you about the importance of good urbanism. I'm still relatively new to Atlanta, unlike a lot of our legacy residents. So I take a lot of heart and appreciation for all of the systems that were developed long before I arrived and will still be here long after I'm gone. As I'm sure you already know, the MPU system is almost 50 years old right now. And I would like to behoove the body to continue that tradition of empowering the people and listening to the voices of the people in regards to what they want developed in their neighborhoods, what they want for them, their children and their children's children. I think Atlanta is at a point where it's possible that it can continue to excel as it is already doing. And I think there's a lot of opportunity, especially in the South and of Atlanta, especially with the completion of the Beltline. So I will just implore you to continue to be cautious and steadfast in hearing our voices, hearing our intentions, and making sure that whatever gets developed in that area benefits us for generations. entrenched in the practice of good urbanism, and it empowers our residents both economically, environmentally, and for housing. So anything within this Beltline overlay, anything near Mars Station is done with the intention of more job opportunities, denser housing, and more accessibility to transit and that any other developments, large or small, is not a waste of that opportunity because once that bell is rung, it can't be unrung and we will be living with the repercussions of any of those decisions for the next 30, 40, 50 years. And I would like for children that I may never meet for years I may never see to still be able to flourish within the city. And I think the time is now to consider that and continue that practice. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Next, we have Carla Elder Thrasher.

Good morning. I just want to say that I am an advocate in the Southwest and Southeast community, and I support the redevelopment of our communities, the growth and the potential that I see going forward. And thank you for your support.

Thank you, ma'am. The next we have Kayann Paris, I believe is correct.

Hello, thanks for being here. I'm in Southwest Atlanta in District 12. I've been in District 12 for the last almost eight years, and then I was in Edgewood for about five years, and I grew up in Metro Atlanta. I would like to say that I am for redevelopment, but I do think that any redevelopment that happened should be focused on developments that are around healthcare for residents in Southwest Atlanta specifically, and then housing, especially for our aging population in Southwest Atlanta. So any buildings that people can't live in, or seek healthcare in I think should be said no to.

Thanks. Next we have Valerie Sims.

Hello and good morning. Good morning. My name is Valerie Sims and I am in support of redevelopment for Atlanta on the south side, any side. So thank you and I appreciate it.

Thank you very much. Next we have Kevin Campbell.

Good morning. Thank you for the time. Yes, I'm a resident of Southwest Atlanta, and I support the redevelopment of Southwest Atlanta, especially anything having to do with housing and our youth. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Next, we have William R. Berryman III.

I, too, live in Southwest Atlanta and I support the redevelopment of it. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Next is Calperta Jackson.

Good morning. I support the redevelopment of Southwest Atlanta. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. Next we have Brother Antoni, Antoni Muhammad.

Mr.

Brother Muhammad, it's your time to speak please.

I know I'm taking, I'm very upset today. Come in this place, Miss Northwood. They tell me that you tell people you can't give no minutes up. You can't transfer your minutes to make comments. And I think that's something that ought to be dealt with. These people down here talking about their communities, the west side. Pittsburgh, Canterbury, areas that our people live in majority. Majority of this city still look like the majority of people you see out here. And they have a what? A concern about having economic development in their community. We've had all this for years going on. We have you all ever since the 80s to lose over 800,000 people because you stopped wanting to stand up like Manor Jackson did. Manor Jackson did what he... could do to help the people in the community. But you all that look like me continue, Mr. Monk, don't want to be sisters. I'm talking to this young lady named Natalie. Natalie said, look, I had two people to give me their name, Mr. Mayor, to make comments. No, they can't speak for you. That sounds like George Wallace. I live doing George Wallace. Where did George Wallace of the Caucasian Alabama go? He said, I'm not going to let these Negro come to my University of Alabama. And what did John F. Kennedy tell him? You know what? If you don't open that school up, I'm going to nationalize your National Guard. And that's how we got started with some civil right attention. But to go back to the 14th Amendment, That's what Trump been telling you about birthright. We are the people that were birthed in this slave society before the end of the world. And then they decided, Caucasian decided, Mr. Westmoreland, Republicans, we're going to find a way to let them get some freedom. And then what happened, you know, we're in Georgia, Mississippi, all the way from Carolina down to Louisiana, Mississippi. My family always lived on this land. They come on the boat. But I'm saying this to Ms. Notley. Don't tell me you got people that want to give me some minutes so I can make it more clear what their concerns are. But you want to scam, it seems like to me, you can't come and talk about it. Lawyer, I hear you. But if you've got something that don't benefit the interest of the community, why can't they talk up? I heard Ms. Kelsey Barnes, Ms. Boccatari, always talk on issues that I found that are very much conducive to the needs of people that look like the majority. Akon, Atlanta Council on committee. You don't have no houses in this city. You ain't got nothing in this city but what you can find for the big rich billionaire. And other people look out here still don't have economic empowerment. And you people that look like them, SC, what you going to do? You're going to lower it. You know the law. Mr. Thomas is the only one in the Supreme Court speaking up on the issue of the 14th Amendment. But I'm tired of that. But I need to know. Thank you, Brother Muhammad. Your time is up. Can we ask a question about this extending the minutes?

Your time is up. The next one is Gerald. And I believe it's Whitehead. That could be wrong. So whoever. And then after that is Sandra. Looks like Whitehead. OK. So if y'all will come up, please. Mr. Muhammad, if you would please leave the microphone. Your time is up. No, Mr. Muhammad. Do I get a question? No. Brother Muhammad, if you will please leave the microphone. Your time is up.

I see. May I meet you at the hotel?

How you doing? My name is Sandra Whitehead and I live at 251 Richardson Street and I support the redevelopment of the Southwest community. Thank you.

Thank you very much and we now have Sandra Whitehead and I'm sorry Gerald Whitehead. Okay we will move on to Michael Vincent. Michael Vincent.

Good morning to the council. I'm a longtime resident of McKenzieville. And it has been a lot of development in McKenzieville. So I support that development for our area. But it's been a long time for us to get some type of... Yeah, see, we have been denied a lot of privileges that not correspond with our community. It can start... thinking about us until they started to bring in the Olympics and stuff and tore down some valuable property in Summerhill, in McKenzieville, and they still trying to deny us. They're taking our properties. and develop it for them rather than us. And I support the development of Mechanicville in areas like for it. In other words, we need to come together as a whole body and support one another. If more people coming in, And driving up out. That shouldn't be. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Next, I believe is Ulysses Jones. Someone's name that sounds kind of like that. All right. We will give just a minute here.

Good morning. Good morning. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Next we have Jameshia Jones. Wait a minute, I left off. Gussie Williams is next. Gussie Williams and then Jameshia Jones.

Good morning. Thank you for allowing me to speak. I'm a resident of Capitol View Apartments, Southwest Atlanta. That's a part of the Adair Park. And I wanted to say that I am for redevelopment of that particular community.

Thank you, ma'am. Michelle Lewis.

Good morning. Good morning. I just want to say I support the redevelopment.

Thank you. Next is, did I get everyone? Did I get Gussie? Yes. Okay, thank you. Go, come ahead. Marquita, thank you for being ahead of the game. Okay. All the time. You knew where you were. Okay.

Well, hi. I'm a resident of Mechanicville, 259 Richardson Street. And I truly, strongly, strongly, strongly support the new development in our area because it's well needed in our area really, really bad, you guys. So give us the benefit of the doubt. Think hard and think about people of that of our community because we really really really truly need some new development grocery stores first please thank you next we have dave martis

Good morning, everyone. My name is Dave Martis. I live at 661 Grady Place in the West End. Thank you so much for making the time to listen to us this morning. I am a nurse at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spaulding. I've been a nurse there for 12 years. I can tell you in my 12 years that one of the things that the children in our community struggle with the most are respiratory illnesses, specifically asthma. One of the things that concerns me about any form of development that relies on on-site electrical generation with fossil fuels. So, anything that uses a lot of generators is going to generate a lot of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, a lot of harmful chemicals that are going to get into the air of our children and that are going to bring them to see me at Hughes Spaulding. Hughes-Smalding is the only of the three Children's Healthcare of Atlanta locations that is accessible by rail. The other ones you get to the station and you're going to have to take a bus or something like that. So with that in mind, it also is important to me to mention to you all that one of the things that I'm actually back in nursing school doing more education. I just took a community health nursing class. And one of the things we talk about is We talk about, like, health disparities. We talk about, for example, the one fifth of US households that are the lowest income spend, if they have to rely on an automobile, they spend 30% of their household income. I learned this in doing this research for nursing school. They spend 30% of their household income on transportation. If you remove their need for a vehicle to do what they need to do, whether it's get to the hospital, get to work, or what have you, get to the grocery store, the requirement, the percentage of their household income that they must spend on transportation goes down to 5%. Now that is a lot of money that people can be spending so on other needs such as child care, such as groceries, such as health care. So I bring all of that to say, you know, to echo the transit or the importance of transit-oriented development to giving our community members the opportunities to live car-free and also in neighborhoods where they don't have to worry about the air quality. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much.

Next is Quinnisha Tyler.

Hello, good morning. My name is Quinnisha and I support

Okay.

Thank you. My name is Quanisha, and I support the redevelopment in Southwest Atlanta.

Thank you very much. Next is Yolanda Smith. Yolanda Smith. Next is, we will come, she's coming? Okay, great. Thank you.

I'm sorry.

No, no, no. I have a husband who has a walker.

Sorry about that. My name is Yolanda. We're good. Can you hear me? Okay. Thank y'all for allowing me to speak, but my name is Yolanda, and I support the redevelopment south west atlanta because we need the help we need to build up i think it'll help with as much as for jobs and housing and everything but i'm just hoping that we can get the community built up better thank you thank you very much drew owen

Good morning, council members. My name is Dr. Drew Owen. I'm a resident of Adair Park and president of the Adair Park Today Neighborhood Association. I would just like to remind council that we as community have votes. We pay attention to legislation. We see what happens. And then we come together and we hash out pros and cons of developments, of things before that affect our neighborhood. Then we have those votes in our neighborhood associations. Those votes happen in MPUs, MPUs like S, T, V, and X. and i think it is incumbent upon council members to represent those folks who have expressed their opinions on matters we are not fools we pay attention we think about things we've had several months to consider whatever comes before us because we know the regular order so i would ask this body as well as city council as a whole just pay attention to how we vote and represent our wishes thank you

Thank you, Doctor. Next we have Yunian Dilan. Close.

Hello, my name is Julian De Leon and I'm a resident of Atlanta and I truly support redevelopment in Southwest Atlanta.

Thank you very much. Next we have Ermi Vesquez. Hi, good morning. I'm resident of Atlanta, and I support redevelopment in Southwest Atlanta. Thank you very much. We next have Zemira Martinez.

Good morning.

Oh. Thank you. The. Thank you. I can. Can. Can. Can. Can. Can. Thank you you you you Sir, would you like to have a cup of coffee?

Yes, please.

I'd like to have a cup of coffee. Correct. Correct. who is or see Thank you. It is black.

Thank you.

And this is the end of the video. Thank you for watching. in a It's been a long time since I've been in a program like this. It's been a long time since I've been in a program like this. the the the the the the the You're all familiar with the rest of the land. And in the rest of the land, you're involved I've seen a lot of people who are interested in this. The real part of it is that it allows people to think about it. I don't think it puts them in a place where they're entered. They're going to grow up in a place where they're able to think about it. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, I would. Oh, hey. Oh. We have. Oh, have me. You look. For this. I have. crap there's more on this stuff great yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah count this And then progressing is not one of them. So you next, Steven. Sir.

All right, good morning, chair, vice chair, and committee. We all know that culture development in general, but see, Atlanta, there's several, but once you have what's automatic, things align, sometimes they don't. And you have to do that when you're in a certain event and you're getting certain results of some election. average citizens um as certain things sometimes you know state we have made 250 000 banks You might have to go for a development that you don't want to be. It's time to get to the city council that you may hire up for resources. also today they are attractive they sit due to us because the cost is so high it's what to test to get creative. Just want to put that out there. Certain results happen, it's time to get creative. So council member, appreciate your time, appreciate your service, and God bless you. Thank you, sir.

Next, we have Robert.

Thank you, ma'am. I'm the president of Weston Play. I'm also an environmental attorney. I'm a degree development specialist. That's fine. development at a time-oriented development and in a manner that complements all of the work that we do, including many of the work that the council is doing. We generate a lot of um like south town uh that's been growth and i think it will continue to drive my ridership in the future um it's really important we can People-oriented elements, like somebody else mentioned earlier, it's going to hurt that model of ownership. And keep pouring different methods around to make us a more integrated and cohesive city. And I hope that it helps if the council needs to probably... for in-development and people-centric development, especially in areas that have to be around market conditions. I'd like to take a moment briefly also to the issue of challenges that may complicate re-development of services and in our community. From having worked on environmentally impacted properties all around the country, It's not about how the thing is in a vacuum. It's about what the market looks like in a vacuum. And a lot of land that they can't buy appears to be in a vacuum to read a vacuum. I think it's really important for the council to prioritize that long-term focus as you make decisions that are really critical for our city. Thank you all. Thank you, sir. Next, John Boyne.

The speaker is Brittany Moore.

BRITTANY MOORE, I'm Brittany Moore, and I want to talk about . I'm a third generation in . Actual area going down. I love people moving in. I mean, who doesn't? Me. You know, I want to change that. Nothing has happened in this. I can say that. Actual. That is fact. Nothing has happened. You have something with backing. Redevelopment takes money. People want to be, say, man, people that have the money, they grow. It takes money. It takes money. There's nobody coming, anybody in this area with anything. I mean, that's it. So I can sit here and say, you know, of course you are. There's 40. We're like that. The street. The best thing that had. And we would call this the best. The drive. Three. Comes. The. Buildings.

That's a fact. The. Nobody. For a while, I came up. I didn't say much. I walked back to me. You guys can say hi. But it's okay.

It's okay.

It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. And it didn't happen. And then we talk about how this, this, this, this, this, And that's the end of this video.

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for a special use permit for commercial recreation pursuant to section 16 18 I 0 7 be located at 3035 and 3035 and 327 3035 p street road and 3027 bowling way northeast those who are the first they will come back to us we are now at the regular agenda for ordinances for second weeks item number 5 26 0 10 97 u 2606 an ordinance by council member antonio lewis as amended by zoning committee to amend the 1982 atlanta zoning ordinance as amended by amending chapter 18 u spi 21 historic western adair park special public interest district regulations to provide an exception to a certain spacing requirement within subarea 9 Adair Park lift work of SPI 21 and for other purposes and the request is to hold this item.

The request is to hold. Do I have a motion? A motion to hold by Councilman Martin. Do I have a second? Second. A second by Councilwoman Collins. Can you please open that vote? Questions? Go ahead.

Just really quickly in terms of this, can we add the site plan? What is the process if we need to add the site plan to this proposed legislation and, I guess, additional information?

When the item comes up for a vote, the amended documents could be added by vote of this council, of this board.

So the zoning committee will have to make a motion to... To amend, yes, ma'am. Okay. All right. Okay. All right.

Is that it? Yes. All right. And Councilman Worthy.

I just wanted to speak up briefly on this. I think we can all agree it's turned into a pretty big damn mess. I want everybody to know that us holding it today is not us shirking our responsibilities. The request to hold actually came from the author, and that is something that we do out of courtesy here. So I wanted you all to know that the request to hold came from the author, and I will be voting to hold because of that courtesy. And I want to also just encourage everyone, no matter what side you are on this issue, we've got to take the temperature down. We're better than this as Atlantans. I think this has become a very vitriolic and passionate topic. I understand that. I understand that. But it's manifesting itself and really kind of insulting all of our intelligence and some of the correspondence that we're receiving, calling into question our character. Racially charged language. We are all better than this, and this is not landing well with me. And since we are going to probably hold this today, that means we have another couple weeks of this topic before it's put to bed, given that council has recess coming up. And so I don't anticipate communications from each and every one of you ceasing, but it lands a lot better for me if we have intelligent, respectful conversations and policy debates on this and not trying to appeal to inflaming my passions because it's not working. So I just wanted to make those comments before I cast my vote to hold.

Thank you. Next we have Councilwoman Bond.

Thank you. I just had a question. What is the reason to hold, given that this has gone already to the NPUs and ZRB hearing and received a lot of public engagement?

The author is not here. The councilman of the district is not here. I was given a phone call asking that it be held. There obviously are reasons that he would wish for that to be so. And what we have done with this council over the years that I've been here is To follow ward courtesy because the council person of the district is usually the person who knows the most about what's going on not a hundred percent, but that's been the reason a councilwoman bond so I do not have a public reason other than Honoring a request for ward courtesy Thank you.

Yeah, I just wanted to say upfront, I'll be voting against the motion to hold just because I think that there has been a lot of public engagement already. There's how many hundred people in the room today who took time likely out of their workday to be here and engage in this process. And when this Finally comes to a final vote. I will also be a no on that as well, because I think that this council already voted to prioritize housing and transit oriented development along transit in the Beltline Overlay District. And I think that we should respect that decision we already made.

Thank you. And the next speaker is Councilwoman Collins.

Great. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate that. And thank you so much, Councilmember Worthy, for your comments being on the, I guess, the ancillary, like the tertiary end of this. And I appreciate that. I just thought it was surprising as Mr. Worthy made the same, you know, shared his comments as well. There was thumbs up by the same individuals and groups that have sent Councilmember Lewis and I communication that's probably even more probably even more to my jarring to jarring to not only my intelligence but emotions as well I'm going to say just this and answer some of the things that was that was stated there was a comment made about about me removing my name from this legislation and And I'm going to speak this into the mic, into the camera so those cuts can, you know, those video cuts can be made. When I put my name on this legislation initially, if you all have taken the time to look at the 2024 draft legislation, and 2026 legislation, it was I that advocated for the same restrictions that are in this legislation for consideration for this body. That is ensuring that defining what a data exchange is where we have a very fluid definition of a data center That definition was approved before I even joined council, making sure that the data exchange for consideration did not exceed a certain size, did not exceed a certain wattage, that it, in fact, had a percentage of commercial development or live workplace development that's part of it, ensuring that it actually states that it adheres to our noise ordinance. making sure with the conversation of the CBA, also known as a Community Benefits Agreement, that it not only is, although we know it is a standalone agreement, this CBA operates differently because it has been proposed as a covenant to the actual deed or purchase of this property. And so when these conversations happened and when I made sure that language was put in this legislation for your consideration, I firmly believe that it was on my behalf to act in the highest integrity to make sure that it was very clear that I also helped ensure that those restrictions was in the legislation. Because what we have before us is the first time at a municipal at any municipal or state level in this entire state right now in terms of regulating a data center. We have about 42 data centers of varying types throughout this city, whether it is the two that is built at Georgia Tech campus, the other data exchanges that we have throughout the city, and what we do know now, those are operating completely unrestricted. The noise issues, the environmental issues, the water issues, the power grid issues, all of those pieces that comes up in this conversation is going to continue. This legislation before you all is the first opportunity to regulate what that looks like. It even includes the mandate of the recycling cooling system where that has been a debate piece. As this process has moved forward, the community was very vocal with me in terms of, and also Councilmember Lewis, so it just wasn't targeted to me, that if the neighbor, if the NPU voted no, well, made the request that we removed our name or sponsors from this paper pending the NPU vote. I honored that, even though I did not, and I'm going to be very clear and very vocal, and I'm going to stand by it. What I saw take place at that NPU meeting, even being told myself as a council member that had deep knowledge of this legislation that I could not speak at that meeting, and having to get my assistant to push to the meeting to say, no, I am going to speak because miscommunication was being shared at that meeting, I still honored what came out of that. I even further on, so I removed my name from that paper. still heard information, still got tacked on comments, racially charged comments about the process, the history of this city, the civil rights piece, even questioning the fact that I am a civil rights attorney and whatever that meant. And so I even proposed. Well, it's an advocacy lane to push to a revote at NPU. And both of those were shut down. That idea was shut down from everybody. So here we are. So I want to make it very clear in terms of what has happened in terms of my participation as your city post three citywide member in 9, 10, 11, and 12 and what this process was and what we are now. Supporting the hold is in terms of What happened at ZRB, so I do have a question that I'll get some additional information on. I don't think that this is another ploy to push or kick down the road, anything else or any kind of backdoor conversations. We absolutely have no clue what we do know is is allow additional time to get those questions answered and the information Fully before and baked and whether it is an amendment whatever this looks like for for council consideration I do want to take the time to push I do want to take the time to to make that comment and to honor that place since I have been one of the council members intricately involved in this. This issue is going to be, this is a charging issue. It is a charging topic no matter where you are throughout the country. And I think what we have before here is a full consideration, the good, bad, and the ugly. This is part of the process to ensure full community engagement. And I've been very clear and very transparent on my end, whether you like it or not, I am going to make sure that everyone in this room is fully educated on what is before you. And the biggest thing that we're not even talking about is this land is contaminated. There has been multiple conversations on what that looks like. Y'all, I think I've learned so much in this process, but we're not even talking about the fact that this land sits on a large brownfield and we can have continual conversations with that i'm going to stop there and share that contextual piece from my end based on comments that was made today and then also just outstanding questions coming from last week's zrb and so with that madam chair i defer and thank you so much for your comments mr worthy appreciate it and next we have councilman martin

Thank you so much, Madam Chair, and thank you to all you community members for coming out. I know it's not an easy task to come down here and spend your time, but this is what public engagement is all about. And I appreciate that as a council member. I'm a native of the city of Atlanta. I grew up in southwest Atlanta. I'm a graduate of APS. a graduate of Morehouse College. My family church is about a mile from this site, and so I know a lot of the people that live in these communities, and I know that that site, where I used to go to homecoming parties at, has sat dormant for years, and nothing was there. I remember where Murgerson's Seafood was across the street, And you can get a good meal for very cheap on a college student salary. I see some nodding heads. So Marcus has just fed us. But I've took the time in knowing what I know about the contamination that my colleague, Councilmember Collins, has brought up. And knowing the money and the resources that the city of Atlanta has only received a little over half a million dollars in 30 years from the federal government to help with brownfield remediation since 1996. We've received a little over half a million dollars to help with brownfield remediation. And so I want to put those kinds of things in context and push through a lot of the misinformation that I've seen as someone that I think I understand these issues pretty well. I was in the city when Atlantic Station was redeveloped, a very, very large brownfield where most of that remediation was undertaken by the private sector. Much larger site, I think 10 times the size of this site, and was not nearly as contaminated as this site is. And so I also took the opportunity to go and visit the current data exchanges that this company that's looking to purchase this site to learn about the issue within itself, because on face it's an easy no. It's a very hotly charged issue that we're seeing nationwide play out across our state and across the United States. It's very easy to say no to these kinds of projects, but I wanted to ensure that I had a real keen understanding as someone who doesn't represent the area but lives very close to the area. And also I respect the council members that initially put this legislation in. And so wanting to really understand how important this is to our digital infrastructure. Atlanta is now the fintech capital of the world. Atlanta is a hub for healthcare in the United States. I'm a former employee of the Morehouse School of Medicine. After graduating Morehouse College, I worked at Morehouse School of Medicine, and we're trying to remedy the healthcare desert that is South Atlanta. You've got to have a digital infrastructure to support that. where the folks in our communities can get surgeries for doctors that are in Japan. That is a real thing. You got to have the digital infrastructure to support that, where a doctor is working on through a robotic system to perform that surgery. And so all of these things are the questions that we ponder today, and I think we do need to take more time to understand exactly what is at stake here. Again, it could be an easy no. uh you know we most of us on this council have you know left-leaning uh political uh persuasions uh and so this is a very hotly contested issue nationally but I do want to echo the sentiments of my my colleague uh Mr. Worthy and others that we turn down the temperature and return back to a sense of neighborhood togetherness I read all the emails I'm not the council member for the areas. I don't really respond to all of them, but I do read them all and some of the things I've seen and heard Really caused me to grieve for our city not because we're debating a contested issue or a hotly contested issue it's just that the temperature and the and the and the and the the sentiments and the way they're being expressed I think that we have to remember that we're gonna have to live next to each other for a lot longer after these kinds of issues have passed and so for me I will also be supporting the motion to hold this item because I do believe that we need to have a broader conversation about what is important for our city's future on the whole and we I am listening loudly and clearly to our neighborhood leaders but I also know that our neighborhoods are bigger than just our neighborhood organizations they're much larger than that you can't fool me I'm from Atlanta So I know I know people that live in a dare part and Mechanicsville and West End in these communities in these neighborhoods I know what they look like I know who they are I know what their voices sound like but I know the people that live there now that have moved in that are new and I don't want to and I hear you all as well, so Madam chair, I appreciate the time To to share my sentiments. I do support the motion to hold though.

Thank you And next we have councilwoman Bakhtiari. Thank you. Um, I First and foremost, I want to thank folks that took the time to come down today. Parking is hard enough in the city of Atlanta. And then coming to City Hall is a whole different beast. So thank you. And for those of you who took time off of work, who brought your children down here, and those experiencing disability especially, thank you for coming down here. Thank you for making your voices known. To be very clear, I will be voting to hold. And when this does come up, I will be voting against when it comes for its final vote. Do you understand what I mean? I will be voting against because my district is aware the education on this. I will tell you that what has been very difficult, despite where you stand on this issue, despite the merits of This conversation, I do think it's incumbent upon us as leaders to address, bless you, to address comments that are made, especially in this environment, especially with the age that we live in, especially with the amount of conflict, heat, contention, and the pain that we all deal with on a day-to-day basis. I think we can all agree that we're dealing with a lot of grief, not just in this room, but in general. And what I want to say is I believe that the people in this room deeply love our city. I believe that the people in this room want to see smart urban development. What I don't think reflects the people in this room is a lot of the language and rhetoric that has been used during the course of this conversation. Let me be very clear. Racial profiling has no place here. Hateful vitriolic language has no place here. You can debate the merits of this project without tearing each other down. There has been a level of dehumanization that is not appropriate. And let me be very clear. You can make your points without tearing down people, and especially minorities, and especially black people. There's been a little too much of that. And so when I hear stories about how people are profiled when they walk into rooms, when I hear stories about how people on either side are speaking to one another, it breaks my heart. Because what we are losing are the most important components of this conversation, which is how do we bring resources into communities that have nothing, that have been waiting 40, 50 years, as our last commenter said. So I will tell you what my vote is, and as I just did, but what I will not do, despite where I stand on this project, is allow anyone to tear each other down through racial profiling, through xenophobia, through any type of disagreement that is not about the project, but in turn about each other. So I hope we can walk away, as Councilmember Worthy said and Councilmember Collins said. It's time to take heat out of this, to take a moment. When this finally does come for a vote, we will tackle that. But in the meantime, please talk to each other as human beings. Please view the fact that you have subjective experiences, and just because you disagree with another person doesn't mean that they're wrong. People are making decisions based on what they've experienced. Listen to their stories. Listen to them, because I guarantee you Councilmember Collins has experiences none of you have considered, being displaced from the east side, or the violence that Councilmember Lewis saw as a child that most of us will never experience in our lifetimes. So I agree with holding. I will be voting against, but I just needed to say, as a leader in this community, to the people in this room, many of whom I know very well, we can do better than this. Please. So we will continue the dialogue. I appreciate the people who came down here today. But it is our job to continuously call out very problematic behavior. And I urge you to rise above your anger and more animalistic instincts and try to find the common factors with one another. This is not easy. These conversations are not going away. So we can do better. I believe in that. Thank you.

Thank you, and that is the last speaker. So we have a motion and a second. Will you please open the vote?

The vote is open.

And this motion is to hold.

The vote is closed, six yays, one nay. The item's held in committee.

Thank you, thank you.

next we have item number six and can we take that uh madam director along with item number 11 both of which need amendments yes ma'am item number six 26 0 12 51 z 26 31 an ordinance by council member thomas worthy mary norwood and esha collins to weigh the provisions of part three the land development code part 16 zoning chapter r Chapter 4B, R2B, single-family residential district regulations for property located at 4300 Powers Ferry Road, Northwest, Fulton County. Tax parcel ID 17-0118-00010341 for the limited purpose of expanding the legal nonconforming use of the property and to expand the footprint of the nonconforming structure on the property and for other purposes. Staff, NPU, and ZRB recommendation is approval conditional. And item number 112601407U2606, an ordinance by zoning committee for a special use permit for a truck terminal pursuant to section 16170051P for property located at 2090 Jonesboro Road and 2024 Jonesboro Road Southeast. Staff and ZRB recommendation is approval conditional. MP recommendation is denial and the request is to amend and approve.

So we have a request to amend and approve both of these applications. Second. Made by Councilman Worthy, seconded by Councilman Martin. And can we please have that vote?

The vote is open. And this is a vote to amend. And then we'll take the vote to approve.

First vote is to amend. Thank you.

The vote is closed 6-8, 0 nays. The items are amended.

And now can I have a motion to approve as amended by Westmoreland and seconded by Collins.

That vote is open. All right. The vote is closed. Six sheds, zero nays. The items are approved as amended.

Thank you. And, Director, if we could move on to the next item, please.

Item number 72601256Z2632, an ordinance by Councilmembers Antonio Lewis and Ishe Collins to authorize the construction of two digital changing billboard faces and its supporting structure located at 501 Cleveland Circle Southwest and for other purposes. Staff and ZRB recommendation is denial. NPU recommendation is approval.

Motion to approve.

Motion to approve by Martin, seconded by Collins. Can you please open that vote?

The vote is open. The vote is closed, six yeas, zero nays. The item is approved.

Thank you. And Director, if we could take items number nine and, I'm sorry, number eight and 12 as a block.

Item number 8, 2601329Z2625, an ordinance by zoning committee to rezone from light industrial conditional beltline overlay to industrial mixed-use beltline overlay for property located at 1155 Hank Aaron Drive Southwest. And item number 12, 2601408Z2623, an ordinance by zoning committee to rezone from single-family residential to two-family residential for property located at 963 Eileen Avenue Southwest. Staff, NPU, and ZRB recommendation is approval. Request is to approve these items.

Motion to approve by Worthy, seconded by myself, Norwood.

The vote is open. Vote is closed, five yays and zero nays. Item's approved.

And next, we have Madam Director, if you could read number 9.

Item number 9, 2601385, Z2633, an ordinance by zoning committee to rezone from heavy industrial beltline overlay, upper west side overlay, and multifamily residential conditional beltline overlay to mixed residential commercial beltline overlay, upper west side overlay for property located at 1425 and 1475 Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard, Northwest. Staff and ZRB recommendation is approval. NP recommendation is denial, and the request is to hold this item for the

third quarter CDHS committee Here you have a motion whole motion held by Westmoreland seconded by Martin The vote is open We'll fix that it'll be six shays and zero nays

All right, and Madam Director, next one. Item number 10-260-1406-Z2643, an ordinance by zoning committee designating the Peachtree Circle Historic District, located in land lot 105 of the 17th District of Fulton County, Georgia, to the overlay zoning designation of Historic District, pursuant to Chapter 20 of the zoning ordinance of the City of Atlanta, rezoning from single-family residential and single-family residential landmark building or site. to historic district and landmark building or site historic district amending the official zoning map adopting chapter 20 W of the zoning ordinance the city of Atlanta repealing conflicting laws and for other purposes and the request is to refer to the ZRB.

Motion to refer by Bakhtiari and seconded by Norwood.

The vote is open. Vote is closed. Six yays, zero nays. The item is referred.

And I believe we have two resolutions. Is that correct, Madam Director? Yes, ma'am.

Item number 1320. Excuse me?

There's only one resolution.

Yes, sir. Item number 1326R3823, resolution by zoning committee to extend interim controls on the pending designation of the Peachtree Circle Historic District and for other purposes. The request is to approve this item.

Motion to approve by Bakhtiari, seconded by Norwood.

The vote is open. The vote is closed, 6 yays, 0 nays. The resolution is approved.

Thank you very much. With no further legislative items, we are adjourned.