NPU-B Approves Little Nancy Creek Park Master Plan for Accessible Trails, Playground

The new Little Nancy Creek Park bloomed a little more Tuesday night when NPU-B approved the volunteer board's master plan with no changes.

By fall, the park board hopes to have a “world-class” playground in place that will include a 1-mile, ADA-compliant trail complex.

Not only will the community be able to use the park, but the patients and families of nearby Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite are anticipated to have a new site for rehab outings and respite, said co-chairs Joe Cronk and Mark Stovin during the monthly NPU-B meeting at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

In 2007, the city bought the 5-acre parcel on Peachtree-Dunwoody Road and handed the project to the community, which has partnered with Park Pride. The board reported it has raised $250,000 of the $500,000 needed for construction, much of which has been done so far with community volunteers and Eagle Scout projects.

Information about the park, including master plan drawings are online at http://littlenancycreekpark.org/portal/parkdesign.html

In Richard Rauh's report to NPU-B about the April Atlanta Planning Advisory Board meeting, NPU-B chair Sally Silver said she would follow up at City Hall Wednesday about a proposed $62 million lease-purchase revenue bond incentive to finance a proposed supported housing apartment complex on Pharr Road by JLB Pharr Road LLC. Under the proposal, the developers will receive a 50 percent tax abatement in exchange for 40 percent of the units occupied by low-income residents.

NPU-B member Peggy McCormick said during the discussion, “this is a statewide development incentive that has been widely used by the Fulton County Development Authority. … This is not a random, lightly taken development incentive.”

Board member Bill Bozarth said, “this is a misuse of the Development Authority, in my opinion.”

In other business:

Treehouse, Westin Buckhead and the Sanctuary were approved in the prior Safety Committee work session and at the full NPU-B meeting for renewal of their liquor licenses.

Fireworks permits were approved for Lenox Square Mall's July 4 celebration. Bands will include Party on the Moon and A1A, with performances and events beginning at 6 p.m.,WSB's simulcast will start at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m., as usual.

New board member John Bailey, of the Peachtree Heights neighborhood, was introduced.

A representative of the solicitor's office apprised the board of an illegally operated massage parlor on Piedmont Road. The business, which had been licensed with restrictions, was sold to another company.

Board member Bob Stanisowski said, “it seems like the licensing folks don't always check the conditions that have been placed on a business.”

MARTA police, in their report, advised the community to be more cautious about parking lot security and leaving valuable objects in plain sight when parking their cars at MARTA stations after a 33 percent rise in property crimes — six reports in the last month — resulting from “smash and grabs.”

Atlanta police Zone 2 Commander Robert J. Browning reported that suspects have been arrested after a spate of burglaries in the Brookhaven neighborhood around Club Drive and Stovall Road. But hes aid that neighbors should be on the alert and  call 911 to report any crimes or suspicious people. The department also is looking into a possible connection with other burglaries in DeKalb County, he said

Off-leash dogs in city parks is another focus of the department, as are unauthorized signs on telephone poles and "gang-tagging," he said. Gang-tag graffiti is photographed and mapped so police can try to determine where and why areas are being marked.

In addition, security procedures are being updated for July 4 events in Atlanta because of the increased terror threat after the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Neighbors were urged to report door-to-door solicitations, which require a permit, and Browning cautioned that sometimes potential burglars use false solicitations as an opportunity for “window shopping.”

Some board members said that neighbors had seen the thieves but not reported their suspicions.

A letter of support was approved by acclamation for Blue Heron Nature Preserve to apply for Urban and Community Forest grants.