SEPTEMBER 2001

Page 8

Each month the North Buckhead Civic Association Land Use and Zoning Committee meets to consider applications which have been made to the City for changes in zoning and for variances on existing zoning in our neighborhood.  The Committee hears the applicant's side, public comments and then deliberates to determine if we recommend approval,  rejection,  or approval with conditions.

Most cases are easy and straightforward.  One recent one was not: the 2nd Park Avenue condominium.  Neighborhood sentiment ranged from "don't let it be built" to establishing conditions to  preclude problems experienced with construction and operation of the 1st tower.

On the advice of several zoning experts, we concluded that a tower would be built whether we opposed it or not.  So we focused on those problems we have experienced and issues we anticipated and how they could be addressed.

These included:

• Notification of the schedule for the construction of the new tower.
  
• The need for a Contractor's Contact Coordinator, available at all times by phone to document and respond to debris problems and noise/work schedule violations.
  
• Improved landscaping for the projects as viewed from the neighborhood and Phipps Blvd.
  
• Improved muffling systems and restricted testing hours for the emergency generators on both the existing and proposed towers.
  
• Limitation of the height of the new building to 500',  to be no higher than the existing one, to set a general precedent against