Make Your Voice Heard! Survey on TIA Transportation Project List

In the summer of 2012, residents will have the opportunity to vote on a penny sales tax to fund a set of priority transportation projects for metro Atlanta. The Transportation Investment Act of 2010 charged local leaders to work with residents to create a list of transportation priorities that could be funded through this referendum.

Your input is critical to help guide local leaders on the Atlanta Regional Roundtable in developing the best list of projects possible. Please take a moment to answer this five-minute survey and share your thoughts on the region’s transportation future.

The survey is available until May 15^th.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6BH86N5

Six Communities Selected for ARC’s Community Choices Program

The Atlanta Regional Commission has selected six communities around the region to receive planning and technical assistance with reaching their respective quality-growth visions. Each year, through the Community Choices program, ARC provides cities and counties with the tools, resources and strategies required to implement their unique plans.

The communities and projects selected for 2011 are:

• City of Alpharetta – Development of an inventory of vacant commercial properties within the city and a strategy to plan for their reuse.
• Cobb County – An in-depth review of all planning and development regulations related to the redevelopment process to identify possible code conflicts and obstacles to redevelopment.
• City of Fairburn – Creation of an overlay district along Roosevelt Highway, including the city’s historic downtown area.
• City of Hampton – A review of all planning documents to ensure coordination with the goals of the city’s comprehensive plan and recently completed Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) study.
• City of Norcross – Development of a set of economic development tools and incentives for the city.
• City of Union City – An in-depth review of the city’s planning related documents, with special attention paid to how the city’s code and ordinances promote “transit readiness”.

Through the Community Choices Implementation Assistance program, ARC’s Government Services division provides cities and counties with pro bono technical assistance and resources to implement innovative quality growth policies and plans. Since the program began in 2005, Community Choices has provided assistance to 35 communities throughout the region; 29 of these were provided to communities to help implement their existing LCI plan.

Additional information on the Community Choices Implementation Program can be found on ARC’s website:

http://www.atlantaregional.com/local-government/planning-assistance/planning-assistance

ARC Sends Regional Transportation Wish List to GDOT

(ARC Press Release April 15, 2011) The journey to ratchet up the Atlanta region’s mobility quotient through a 2012 regional referendum took another step forward today, when the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) delivered the metro region’s “wish list” of transportation projects to the planning director of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

“Our local governments, transit agencies and others have compiled and submitted a very comprehensive list of projects,” said Bucky Johnson, Mayor of Norcross and chair of the Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable (Roundtable). “This is an important step in a long process to get where we need to go. We look forward to working together as a region to craft an exciting list of improvements for voters to consider next year.”

The submittals includes projects from all parts of metro Atlanta and represent some $29 billion in road, transit, safety, bike and trail and other improvements to choose from, to potentially be funded by a regional referendum in July of 2012. If successful, the penny sales tax could generate approximately $8 billion over a 10-year period, made possible by the Transportation Investment Act of 2010.

Correction – PlaceMakers in Decatur 4/14 (NOT TONIGHT)!

To correct a previous Land Matters post – PlaceMakers in Decatur4/14 to Discuss Benefits of Form Based Codes.

Sorry for any confusion! But plan to join us this Thursday night at the Decatur Holiday Inn Conference Center to hear Hazel Borys and Susan Henderson, both from PlaceMakers, LLC, discussing the benefits of form based codes.

1.5 hours continuing education APA & AIA credit will be offered.  

Afterwards, the City of Decatur is hosting PlaceMaking @ the Pub at the many establishments surrounding the Decatur square, during which your first pint is free. 

 Thursday, April 14 6:00-7:30PM

Decatur Holiday Inn Conference Center

130 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur Ga 30030

More details can be found here:

http://placeshakers.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/pmw-decatur.pdf

PlaceMakers in Decatur 4/12 to Discuss Benefits of Form Based Code

Have you heard about form based codes, but are not sure exactly how they work or if they are right for your community? Or are you curious how form based codes could be used as an economic development tool to attract investments? Perhaps you are familiar with form based codes, but want the chance to ask specific questions about the benefits associated with this tool.

Whatever the reason, be sure to join us next week at the Decatur Holiday Inn Conference Center, where Hazel Borys and Susan Henderson, both from PlaceMakers, LLC, will be discussing these very things. Hazel and Susan will be presenting on the advantages of traditional urban design as an economic development strategy, exploring the form-based SmartCode as a key tool for making it happen, and will conclude with some round table discussions on next steps for form-based codes in the Atlanta region.

And did I mention that this event if FREE? AND that 1.5 hours continuing education credit for APA & AIA are offered? AND that afterwards, the City of Decatur is hosting PlaceMaking @ the Pub at the many establishments surrounding the Decatur square, during which your first pint is free? Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for this fun and informative event!

Thursday, April 14 6:00-7:30PM

Decatur Holiday Inn Conference Center

130 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur Ga 30030

More details can be found here: http://placeshakers.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/pmw-decatur.pdf



LCI Areas Account for 37% of Region’s Population

Now that the 2010 US Census data is available for download, it is hard not to spend considerable time doing various analyses with the new data.

The latest example: I just recently ran an analysis of block group population data contained within LCI areas, as compared to the region as a whole (region being defined by the MPO boundary for this first analysis). Keep in mind the numbers are approximate since the LCI study boundaries do not follow block group lines. But regardless, the results are pretty cool!