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We did it! Summary Link / Summary Notes (COA) / How to Comment (to COA) / Summary Notes (Neighbor)

Neighbors! Your voice has been heard! Admittedly, the zoning rules for our wonderful multi-family community have always been a bit of a mess and the city zoning team had a big challenge in front of them; your positive input to the process helped get us to a better place. The final draft of the updated zoning rules does appear to codify the current amalgam of guidelines to be more consistent and also preserve our street and structure layout (as a few of us interpret it…but please make your own determination and feedback for the new “N5A” plan!) —— SUMMARY LINK FROM COA —— Hi, Here’s the link I mentioned: RG-2, RG-3 Conversion Updates | ATL Zoning 2.0 —— SUMMARY NOTES FROM COA — Hi,   The 7-foot side setback is being reduced in all neighborhood-scale districts to better reflect existing built patterns. When the 7-foot setback was created in 1982, it was an arbitrary number that did not reflect the actual built setbacks of neighborhoods. We have measured thousands of lots and found th...
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NEXT STEP! Join virtual feedback meeting March 17th!

I’ll just repost the Information from the February edition if VaHi Voice; couldn’t have said it better! Let’s keep on top of this! ATL Zoning 2.0:  Ready for Review The multi-year effort to align the city’s growth and development regulations, known as ATL Zoning 2.0, is now ready for review. Community member are welcome to make comments and ask questions on draft modules (see instructions below) and join the  upcoming, virtual Q+A session on March 17th at 6:30 pm .  What’s at stake for Virginia-Highland? Two streets - St. Charles Avenue and Greenwood Avenue - are at risk of being rezoned. They are currently zoned as RG-2, a medium-density residential zoning district that allows single-family homes, duplexes, and townhouses. ATL Zoning 2.0 proposes RG-2 zoning would become UG3A, which would reduce setbacks, allow for more 3-story buildings, and more.  Learn more and give feedback Follow the instructions below to be taken to the Module draft where you can leave instruc...
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Email update! (2/3/2025)

Great job getting the word out, neighbors!  So where are we? BOTTOM LINE (TLDR): We’ve been heard and there has been a promising response from the city zoning team, but the proposed zoning isn’t done, so neither are we! There is a zoning meeting tonight, Feb 3; it would be great for us all to join to learn the review process, BUT the change for which we are advocating will NOT be on the agenda until an unspecified future meeting. We all need  to look for and attend that future meeting! 1) Be heard - DONE: Great job! By our count, of the 230 lots on Saint Charles and Greenwood, we’ve seen input to the process from +15% of the homeowners! And the feedback from the city zoning team to our YIMBY message (“we support improvements our current multi-family zoning, just not those that destroy the neighborhood’s character”) is “a new strategy for embedded neighborhoods is needed”.  2) Get support - ONGOING:  A) City Council - Outgoing CM Alex Wan (we are District 6 for rema...
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Crucial next step! Sign up, Save the date, Attend! Zoning Review Feb 3, 2025

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It is important that we all register ahead of time to attend the next zoning review meeting! 1) Follow the link to the zoning website: 2) Register to attend: Your To Do List 1) Comment and question! And stay positive!!! We are convincing them there is a right way to do zoning updates, not just scream “NIMBY!” 2) Follow-up! Be sure you sign up for subsequent meetings and identify as a “stakeholder”!  https://atlzoning.com 3) Gather support! Encourage your friends and neighbors to comment and question and follow-up. 4) Gather more support! We are trying to get our city council rep to have a position in this. 5) Gather even more support! We are also trying to get the VHCA board and Planning Committee to support us We’ve got this…as long as we act together!
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Current status with Atlanta Zoning 2.0 (latest update 1/28/25)

FROM THE ZONING TEAM, (1/28/25) (Paraphrased by Neighbor Jeff): Our concerns about how the proposed UC3 zoning would negatively affect Saint Charles and Greenwood as ‘embedded’ neighborhood streets have been heard. The next public meeting  on Feb 3  has a different focus; we will be notified when our concerns are addressed subsequent to that presentation. (Exact response from the zoning team):  We received several inquiries over the weekend regarding whether a proposed alternative for the conversion of RG-2 and RG-3 within neighborhoods will be presented at the upcoming Module III meeting   on Monday February 3, 2025 . Unfortunately, we will not be addressing this issue during that meeting.   Monday’s meeting will focus exclusively on Module III, which pertains to the administration section of the Zoning Ordinance. Many community members have been anticipating this material for months, and it plays a critical role in ensuring the legal defensibility of the entir...
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“What Can I Do?” Important links and emails

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1) View and comment on Atlanta Zoning 2.0   A)  Follow link to “Atlanta Zoning 2.0” https://www.atlzoning.konveio.com/revised-discussion-draft-form-districts-clean     B) Scroll down to “UG3”; that is the proposed replacement zone for our current RG-2      C) Create a user account and add comments.  2) Send your concerns and questions via e-mail to the consultants:      A) acruz@contenteconsulting.com      B) kmholmes@atlantaga.gov      C) cracicot@tsw-design.com      D) atlzoning2@Atlantaga.gov 3) Email cc: your concerns to our city council representative:      awan@atlantaga.gov 4) Questions for your scrappy little amateur neighborhood effort? Email:      Savesaintcharlesandgreenwood@gmail.com
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Our message to neighbors

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Hi! My name is Jeff Keesee and I’m your neighbor at 897 Saint Charles Ave. Do you know about new, proposed zoning regulations scheduled to be in place this summer that will allow the house next to you to be replaced with a zero setback storefront or apartment covering up to 85% of the lot? No porches. No trees. No side yards. No privacy.  This is a crazy update that doesn’t take into account the fact that while our streets (Saint Charles and Greenwood) ARE “multi-family”, they are NOT wall-to-wall apartments/storefronts! Do you have concerns? Let the city and the zoning consulting group know! ASAP! If we don’t, this WILL happen.
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