DHCA, DeKalb Law Dept. Sue Planning Commission

Druid Hills Civic Association and the DeKalb County Law Department delivered on their promise to file an appeal against the DeKalb County Planning Department over their decision in favor of subdividing “the Nunan property” on Clifton Road, announced DHCA President Bruce MacGregor at the association’s board meeting Wednesday night.

“We anticipate the suits will be combined,” MacGregor said. At last month’s DHCA meeting, the board authorized hiring specialty litigation counsel in response to DeKalb County Planning Department’s unexpected vote in favor of the subdivision of the site at 1142, 1150 and 1158 Clifton Road. The second law suit was filed last week.

The proposed development of the site into a seven-home subdivision with cul-de-sac and retention pond has survived eight years of six lawsuits and three appellate decisions. At issue now is whether the DeKalb Planning Commission overstepped its authority by not requiring the subdivision request to be heard first by the DeKalb Historic Preservation Commission.

DHCA contends that a substantial portion of the nature of the historic neighborhood is determined by the landscape features, described as “curvilinear, interconnected streets” platted by famed landscaped architect Frederick Law Olmsted and that the planning commission’s ruling was invalid in procedure and inconsistent with the landscape features of the historic district.

The board also discussed various community development issues Wednesday night, including possibly establishing a residential infill overlay district to help guide development in the neighborhood.

In other development discussion, MacGregor said that rather than developing on the University Inn site next door to the Catholic Center —where parking and neighborhood encroachment may be problematic — that DHCA might prefer for Emory to find a place for private institutions on their campus.

“There have been zoning changes or attempted zoning changes on nearly every intersection between Clifton Road and Haygood, so we need to anticipate these and get ahead of them,” MacGragor said.

“In a way, [the Catholic Center] would rather be on Haygood, since it’s closer to the dorms,” he said.

Board member Becky Evans reported about possible parks and playground uses for recently acquired land on Ridgewood and Vickers drives. She said DHCA will work with Park Pride and to develop the parks and is investigating other sites in the community.