Dunwoody City Council discusses funding for North Shallowford path

The Dunwoody City Council at its Aug. 25 meeting discussed a $1.5 million contract to complete the final design phase of the North Shallowford Path project that will run from Cotillion Drive to connect to an existing path near Peeler Road.

The final design phase, according to a staff memo, will include an approved environmental document, right-of-way plans, and final construction plans that include stormwater analysis, signing and marking, utility plans, and erosion control plans.

“With the supplemental agreement the total contract will be $1,569,964
plus a five percent design contingency,” the memo said. “The Atlanta Regional Commission has allocated $560,000 under the federal Surface Transportation Program – Urban (STP-Urban) and $400,000 under the federal Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-aside Program, for a total federal allocation of $960,000 for the design phase of the project on North Shallowford Road.”

The proposed five-year capital budget also includes $687,000 from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds to fully fund the design. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2029.

The scope of the project, according to city staff, will include adding a path on one side of the road and filling gaps in the existing sidewalk. The public had a chance to weigh in on the project at a public information open house on May 13, with an open
comment period ending on May 27.

The project website received 435 page views in total, and 22 people attended the in-person open house, said Michelle Hirose, the city’s deputy public works director. The city received 29 written comments with 17 in support of the project; seven opposed, one uncommitted, and four expressing conditional support.

The matter will be taken up for a final vote at the next city council meeting on Sept. 8.

The council, during public comment, heard from Wendi Taylor, who has declared her candidacy for District 3, Post 3 council, a seat that is currently held by Tom Lambert who is running for reelection.

“Despite the current ayor and city council’s sincere efforts, many of their collective decisions have not been in the best interest of their constituents, especially with homeowners and religious organizations,” Taylor said. “I am totally committed to those who call Dunwoody home, including businesses the serve the community.”

Taylor said she has decades of experience doing strategic planning , logistics engineering, and project management for businesses and government clients, which will aid her in making decisions for the city.

Regarding trails, Taylor said, “too much of a good thing is bad.”

“The PATH Foundation that developed the master trail plan is in the business of selling paths, and they sold Dunwoody City Council on 69 miles of 12-foot-wide paths across Dunwoody,” she said. “Roads are being narrowed, lanes are being removed, and traffic flows will be restricted 24/7.”

Taylor also said Lambert “strongly advocates for wedging high-density developments between our owner-occupied residential neighborhoods.”

In other action, the council:

• Swore in two new police officers, Skylar Lewis and Aaron Barone, to the Dunwoody Police department;
• approved the disposal of six surplus city-owned vehicles;
• Passed on consent agenda an $88,000 expenditure to display holiday lights at Brook Run Park, that will include a glow-in-the-dark seesaw and UFO photo area, Mega Tree, nebula forest, Santa’s rocket launch, and spacewalk area;
• held a public hearing on a variance to allow the replacement of a city maintenance facility and associated improvements in a 75-foot stream buffer at Brook Run Park;
• heard from Economic Development Director Michael Starling Starling that the city has had to sever ties with an artist from Poland who was selected to build an art installation in the Georgetown area because of economic challenges. “It is a lot more difficult to import art than we ever could have thought,” Starling said.

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