The first half of 2017 was far and away the hottest such time period of any year in 123 years of record keeping in the Southeast. Don’t let a lack of heat waves or a senator with a snowball deflect from the overwhelming evidence of a global and regional warming trend.
Population Update 2016: More Buildings, More People
In just six years Atlanta has added half the number of people it lost during the great urban exodus of the 1950’s-1980’s. Between 2015 and 2016, Atlanta was one of the fastest growing cities in the metro area and one of the fastest growing large cities in the country.
Citing the Need for More Coffee Shops, Cities Back Plan to Seize Private Property
Cities are in love with small coffee shops, artisan burger shops, and boutique clothing stores. The only thing they like more is taking people’s property and converting it to those types of businesses. This is, of course, a bit of hyperbole, though many would make that statement with much more sincerity. A bill passed by the Georgia Legislature would allow local governments to condemn blighted property and sell it to developers. It’s not a bad idea.
The Public Doesn’t Care About Stormwater Management. Here’s Why You Should
Sewer and water drainage systems, the unsung heroes of our communities, are tasked with managing stormwater runoff; yet cities and counties often struggle to convince citizens that such systems are worth the investment. Several Georgia Senators had a grand plan to undermine the system by cutting fees for larger developers at the expense of the average homeowner.
Space Flight Noise, Atlanta's Transit Awakening, and Confusing Stream Buffer Rules Highlighted the 2016 Legislative Session
The 2017-2018 Georgia Legislative Session kicks off on January 9. We will be tracking and analyzing bills related to land use, local government, transportation, planning, and environmental issues throughout the session. Please […]
Chattanooga Could Spell Disaster for High-Speed Rail in the Southeast
Chattanooga is a beautiful city tucked in the mountains of Southeastern Tennessee. Choosing it to be the first city to connect to Atlanta via High-Speed Rail would be a disastrous plan.
The Georgia-Florida Water War Reaches Its Boiling Point
“Finally, please settle this blasted thing. I can guarantee at least one of you will be unhappy with my recommendation and, perhaps, both of you. You can’t both be winners. But you […]
When it Comes to Zoning Changes, Time Waits for No Plan
This is an important question since structures built under the auspices of an old zoning code that are now excluded from the current zoning code are at odds with the updated vision for the community. This may not be a big deal when, say, a house is constructed a year after an area is rezoned for commercial use. However, it becomes increasingly problematic when that house is now a power plant and the one year has increased to ten. This ability to develop based on a 10 year old zoning code creates uncertainty for potential residents and developers who may find the nonconforming development to be an undesirable neighbor.