Tucker, GA — The Tucker City Council work session March 22 showed the city’s growth and growing pains as staff members presented updates on economic development, traffic engineering and code enforcement.

An economic development report by John McHenry, assistant city manager and director of community and economic development, shows a boom in real estate. Ten developments in Tucker and Northlake promise to bring nearly 700 new housing units.

Ashbrooke North by Rocklyn Homes: 84 urban single-family units and 13 townhomes

Ashbrooke South by Rocklyn Homes: 37 townhomes

Enclave at Belvedere by Minerva Homes: 19 single family units

Enclave on LaVista by John Wieland: 63 single family units

Trinity Park by Minerva Homes: 73 single family townhomes

South Norcross Tucker: 84 townhomes

Saren Court: 13 single family units

Chamblee Tucker Road near LaVista Road: 14 single family

Lawrenceville Highway at Morris Road: 22 townhomes

The Reid: 245 multi-family units

“Residential demand is very strong,” said McHenry. “Folks want to be part of Tucker’s success story.”

McHenry included in his report industrial properties at Georgia Furniture Mart, Sugar Bowl Bakery, Hugh Howell Marketplace and Emory Healthcare at Northlake Mall.

Chamblee Tucker Road safety study results were presented by city engineer Ken Hildebrandt. Conducted by VHB, the same firm who helped Tucker with its transportation master plan, analyzed vehicle speeds, crashes and safety of the Chamblee Tucker Road corridor from Tucker Norcross Road to LaVista Road.

Two alternatives for improving safety were presented. One option is to install six to eight pedestrian crosswalks with blinking signals for approximately $560,000 to $840,000. The second option is to implement a road diet, taking the four-lane road to two lanes with a dedicated bike lane, middle turn lane, medians and pedestrian crossings with blinking signals. This option would cost between $480,000 and $640,000 plus an additional $700,000 to repave the road.

Councilmember Noelle Monferdini said she agreed with the second option considering Chamblee Tucker Road has two schools, two parks and excessive speeding. Councilmember Anne Lerner added that in just the past few weeks cars have “obliterated” neighborhood signs along Chamblee Tucker Road including Brymond Acres, Wellington and at Tucker High School.

“I don’t want to accommodate a speedway for people who don’t live off that road, or don’t live in our community,” Lerner said of the cut through traffic from I-285.

Hildebrandt also updated City Council on the Tucker Summit CID Freight Cluster Plan. In the next four to five years, the CID and Tucker will work together on short- and long-term projects, including road improvements like wider turn radii and longer turn lanes; and pedestrian safety like flashing beacons at crosswalks and access to public transit. The majority of the $6 million project, Hildebrandt said, will be paid for by federal funding; the remainder will be split between the city and Tucker Summit CID. A resolution will be presented to City Council next month.

Director of planning and zoning Courtney Smith discussed a potential amendment to code regarding auto uses, specifically the safety of automobile storage. Complaints about vehicle storage have increased in the last few years, Smith said, and have a history of causing environmental concerns, zoning violations and safety issues.

In other news:

Tucker’s Parks and Recreation department is hosting several events.

– An egg hunt is set for April 3 at Fitzgerald Field.

– Youth baseball league has 100 players and opening day is April 17. The league plans to play until Memorial Day, and may extend the season into summer.

– Tucker Recreation Center is holding spring break camp as well as summer camp, adhering to COVID-19 protocols.

– A fundraiser for summer camp, adult field day is being planned for May.

– Pickleball, golf and tennis leagues are all underway for spring.

The next City Council meeting is being held April 12.

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