SCAPEGRESHAM SMITHBIOHABITATS NEW SOUTH ASSOCIATES DR. NA'TAKI OSBORNE JELKS DR. RICHARD MILLIGAN EDWARDS-PITMAN

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERLANDS GREENWAY STUDY

PUBLIC FORUM SUMMARY11/02

SUBMITTED ON 11/13/2019

THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERLANDS STUDY The Chattahoochee RiverLands will re-unite the River with the Metro Atlanta region, and link suburban, urban, and rural communities into a continuous 100-mile public realm. More than a trail, the RiverLands is a linear network of Greenways and Blueways that will bring people to the water’s edge, promote stewardship and conservation of the river, and reveal the subtle magic of the Chattahoochee to all.

The Chattahoochee RiverLands Study is managed by a joint Project Mangagement Team consisting of the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Trust for Public Land, Cobb County, and the City of Atlanta. The Design Team is led by SCAPE Landscape Architecture with collaborators in Transportation & Multi-Modal Trail Design (Gresham Smith), Anthropology & History (New South Associates), Ecological Design & Planning (Biohabitats), Environmental Justice (Dr. Na'Taki Osborne Jelks), Geography (Dr. Richard Milligan) and Environmental Engineering (Edwards-Pitman).

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STRATEGYThe study's public engagement strategy is meant to both invite new participants to the table and to build upon the strong and engaged communities already working along the River. The Public Forums are designed to be informational and accessible meetings with science-fair style stations led by the Design Team and local stakeholders. Public Forums are a chance for the Design Team to inform the public on project status and goals, and to create an accessible platform for two-way face-to-face communication including hearing concerns from impacted community members.

Public Forums are meant to be inclusive, accessible and open to the general public, residents of the watershed and those impacted by the Greenway Study process and future plans. This event type is designed to engage a broad spectrum of people, including people who may not yet have a relationship with the river. Public Forums will be announced on the website at www.chattahoocheeriverlands.com.

OVERVIEW

FORMAT OF THE PUBLIC FORUMThe Public Forum was held on Saturday, November 2nd, 2019, from 10am to 4pm at the C.T. Natatorium and Recreation Center in Atlanta. The public was invited to provide feedback on the three alignment alternatives and provide local insight on the project.

All project materials shared are available on the project website: www.chattahoocheeriverlands.com

The forum was set up with seven stations:

• Introduction to the Project Area, Project Website, and Project Team.

• Research: Existing Conditions Analysis of historical resources, the demographics of the area, current connectiosn & access to the River and the ecology of the RiverLands. The existing conditions analysis can be downloaded online at www.chattahoocheeriverlands.com.

• Revealing the RiverLands: Project Vision and Goals. The Project Vision and Goals are available on the website and printed copies were available to anyone attending the Public Forum.

• Detailed maps of the three alignment alternatives, as well as the Approach and Methodology.

• An introduction to the Pilot Site, Existing Conditions Inventory in Cobb County, Alignment options, and opportunity to give feedback on program types that could be implemented corridor-wide.

• A childrens' area with arts and environmental education.

• An interactive mapping exercise of the three alternative alignments. Visitors were invited to share their thoughts, criticisms and aspirations via comment pins and hand-written notes onto a large format map representing the full 100-mile project area.

PRESS COVERAGE • Atlanta In Town Paper: Eco Briefs

Public Forum Interactive Map

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PUBLIC FORUM SUMMARYC.T. MARTIN NATATORIUM & RECREATION CENTER, 11/02/19

ATTENDANCE • Bill Boynes

• Dustin Hillis (Atlanta City Council)

• Joe Carn (Fulton County)

• Brock Thompson (Georgia Tech Student)

• Sally Bethea (CPC)

• Ed Malowney

• Camilla Warren (USEPA)

• Marc Cohen

• David Shieltz

• Gwen Smith Watson (Collier Heights Association)

• Dan Conroy

• Terrance Williams

• Drue Hale

• Mike Mudd

• Marian Miller

• Dan Miller

• Heather Hussey-Coker (Riverside)

• Diana Wilson (City of Chattahoochee Hills)

• Darryl Haddock (WAWA)

• Donna Stephens (Proctor Creek Stewardship Council)

• Kwanza Hall (Kovach Development)

• Roberta Cook (RiverLine Historic Area)

• Karen Couch

• Alex Khan

• John Welch

• Cotten Alston

• Harriet Rosenberg (Chattahoochee BAC)

• Cathenne Rowell (City of South Fulton)

• Patrick Clemmons (City of South Fulton)

MAIN TAKEAWAYS• Overall, very positive feedback on the

amount of work created in the last year and the public was generally supportive of the alignment options presented. The Public Forum had over 65 attendees, from diverse backgrounds and areas of the project area. Most attendees stayed for over an hour. It was suggested that moving forward, the Project Team reach out to Neighborhood Associations to advertise the next Public event.

• In the Suburban Parklands (Sub-Area 1), the public expressed interest in connecting the existing parks with bike trails and soft-surface or pedestrian-only trails through existing National Park lands. Some attendees from Johns Creek were concerned with proximity of trail to private property, yet most had a positive outlook after speaking with team.

• In the Urban Core (Sub-Area 2), the public expressed interest in connecting regional trails, tributaries in need of restoration, public transit hubs, and existing community assets like parks, schools and libraries to the River – utilizing loops along Proctor Creek, Sandy Creek, and Utoy Creek. The public expressed interested in the RiverLands as an opportunity to reunite those areas with each other and the River.

• In the Agricultural Countryside (Sub-Area 3), the public comments were limited but the public expressed interest in connecting existing tracts of parkland with trails and potentially, the re-creation of a historic ferry crossing at Chattahoochee Bend State Park and McIntosh Reserve.

• Team will look into sharing Task 6 Pilot Site inventory and related materials on the Chattahoochee RiverLands website

• Dee Clemmons (Henry County)

• Tony Torrence (Proctor Creek Stewardship Council)

• Jennifer Jezyk (HL Strategy)

• Michael Venable (Old National Community Alliance)

• David Huetton (United Consulting)

• Khobi Hall

• Lawrence Hall

• Lisa Smith Waterson (Collier Heights)

• Julius B Mitchell

• Rob Cushman

• Don Schoenl

• Doug Miller

• Craig Pendergrant (Groundwork Atlanta)

• Lee Hauer (Westside Fund)

• Rachel Pesch (Vista Growth)

• Andrea Greco

• Yasmeen Awamleh (SHAPE)

• Annie Couch

• Jim Farmer

• Sarah Kelty

• Melissa Wade

• Mark Ceantoss (RLHA Inc)

• Ray Wade (River Glen Subdivision)

• Delmalya Guish (SHAPE)

• Steve Nygren (Serenbe/Chatt NOW)

• Dee Martin

• Jett Hattaway (Chatt NOW)

• Randy Blair

• Caitlin Ray

• Robin Elesch

• Ruby Mitchell Harrisa (Proctor Creek Stewardship Council)

• Lenny Zaprowsky (Johns Creek City Council)

• Susan Patterson (TPL)

• Kathy Hean (Riverwalk Atlanta)

• Keith Sharpe (Riverwalk Atlanta)

• Evan Barnard (Nature for All)

• Cathy Barnard

• James Baige

• Norm Fagger (Cobb Parks Coalition)

4SCAPE

Public Forum November 2nd

Attendees Providing Feedback on the Alignment Alternatives Attendees Providing Feedback on the Alignment Alternatives

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MAP + FLAGS DOCUMENTATION

This is a fun park

Old bridge - like

Finish pedestrian bridge

Question: Can the sidewalk be widened? Is it too steep?

Buffer from roadMake more "natural" with shade

Combined with bridge at Jones Bridge makes giant loop trail

Great connectivity between parks and recreation area +

Unpleasant to have trail along Holcomb Bridge

Would be great if Horseshoe Bend would agree. Best option.

Support connecting parks

Encroaching private land

Don't pave these trails

Great opportunity if Rivermont would be openminded

Should be done in Phase I

Only foot path next to water.

Connections to multiple public and private schools

Trail head interpretive experience

Historic Standing Peachtree & connect to SCT

Montgomery Cemetery

Trolley tunnel

Connection to Spink-Collins

Proctor Creek Greenway TrailHistoric Collier Heights Community

English Park

Hotel

Green equity

Lionel Hampton Trail

H.E. Holmes Marta

Mary Scott Harwell Park

Carey Steeple

Pitts

Linking housing to jobs + green

Water venue view

Water acres

Waterfront development

Pet Memorial

Park

BrockUrban Ecology Center @ Proctor Creek

Connection to Whetstone Creek Trail is missing

Trolley sub station trail head

Super steep hill with lots of traffic

Going through my property

Wildlife birds & deer

Fishing

Traversing private land & buffered neighborhood

No new trails in East Palisades!

No camping!!!

Too congested, no room to expand

Bridge - more traffic to north end

More traffic on North Sandy Springs

Preferred Soft trail only!

Would like foot path

If we could add trees along here, I support!

Need a boat/kayak launch in Riverside

Connect to future Proctor Creek Trail Belt Line

Make old incinerator a destination @ adaptive reuse opportunity

Historic brick plant & Whittier Mill should be a destination

Repurpose Chatt. Brick for recreation not industry

Senior housing

Trail to Lilian

Cooper Shepherd

Park

Historic Collier Heights Community

Green equity

Utoy Creek Urban Ecology Center

Don't need a tour of FIB

River trail should be on the river

Prefer along river to FIB

Foot bridge to Buzzard's Roost

Connect to Trammel Crow Park

Connect to Boat Rock Bouldering Park

Public art

H.E. Holmes Marta

Mary Scott Harwell Park

CT Martin you are here!

Sandy Creek @ Bolton Rd

Linking housing to jobs + green

Howell's Mill National Reg Site, Nickajack Creek Greenway Walking Trail

Chatt. Hills connect Green Tracts

Connect McIntosh Res. to Chatt. Bend SPFerry across river

MAP FLAGS DOCUMENTATION (NORTH TO SOUTH) (1 OF 6)

Community Feedback at Bowmans Island Community Feedback at Rogers Bridge

Community Feedback in Berkeley LakeCommunity Feedback at Settles Bridge

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MAP FLAGS DOCUMENTATION (NORTH TO SOUTH) (2 OF 6)

Community Feedback near Medlock Bridge

Community Feedback near Garrard Landing Community Feedback near Gold Branch

Community Feedback near Jones Bridge Unit

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MAP FLAGS DOCUMENTATION (NORTH TO SOUTH) (3 OF 6)

Community Feedback near Sandy Springs Community Feedback near Sandy Springs

Community Feedback near Johnson Ferry Community Feedback near Paces Mill

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MAP FLAGS DOCUMENTATION (NORTH TO SOUTH) (4 OF 6)

Community Feedback near Peachtree Creek Community Feedback near Proctor Creek

Community Feedback near Pilot Site Community Feedback near Collier Heights

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MAP FLAGS DOCUMENTATION (NORTH TO SOUTH) (5 OF 6)

Community Feedback for Utoy Creek

Community Feedback for City of South FultonCommunity Feedback for City of South Fulton

Community Feedback for Fulton Industrial Blvd

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MAP FLAGS DOCUMENTATION (NORTH TO SOUTH) (6 OF 6)

Community Feedback for Chattahoochee Hills

Community Feedback for McIntosh Reserve and Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Community Feedback for McIntosh Reserve and Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Community Feedback at Buzzard's Roost

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COMMENT CARD DOCUMENTATION (1 OF 4)

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COMMENT CARD DOCUMENTATION (2 OF 4)

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COMMENT CARD DOCUMENTATION (3 OF 4)

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COMMENT CARD DOCUMENTATION (4 OF 4)

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