Driving Tour Stakeholder Meeting at the Atlanta City Studio

The Driving Tour Stakeholder Meeting took place on Thursday, December 13, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Atlanta City Studio. The goal of the meeting was to begin to engage with community members, local businesses, schools, agencies and institutions along the River and to hear individual concerns, issues, and opportunities for connectivity. The meeting was one of three invited stakeholder meetings held during the 100-Mile Windshield Driving Tour that kicked off the research phase of the Study. At the meeting, the attendees broke into two groups to 1) talk through priority issues, recommended research, and precedents and 2) locate greenway aspirations, obstacles, and assets for the themes of ecology, history and culture, and connections and access. See notes below:

MEETING AGENDA

• Meet and Greet
• Atlanta City Studio Introduction
• Design Team Presentation
• Break-out sessions
  • Group Discussion – Qualitative Assessment of priority issues, stakeholder involvement, recommended research, precedents and site visits
  • Mapping Exercise with Model – locating greenway aspirations, obstacles and assets for themes of ecology, History & culture, and connections & Access
• Report Back
• Next Steps

SUMMARY OF IDENTIFIED ASPIRATIONS

• Better connectivity between/among the parks and greenspaces
• Create human narrative around ecological issues (invasive plants, migratory birds, water quality, local species health/diversity)
• The Chattahoochee should be like “air” available to everyone
• Perceived as complete linear system in its entirety, not just random moments where roadways cross it.
• Public Transportation Access
• Prioritize certain sites like Chattahoochee Brick, Standing Peach tree, Cochran Mill and the State Park

SUMMARY OF IDENTIFIED OBSTACLES

• Balancing conservation and public access
• Affordability and housing, preventing more gentrification + avoiding displacement
• Maintain water quality
• Coordination among cities, counties, etc.
• Addressing river base flow issues related to surrounding imperviousness
• Working with current regulations in a way that continues/enhances river/water protection

GROUPS IN ATTENDANCE

• Atlanta Audubon Society
• Chattahoochee NOW
• Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
• Friends of Collier Heights Park
• Metropolitan Atlanta Urban Watershed Institute
• MTB Atlanta
• River Line Historic District Area
• People TV Asst.
• Georgia Tech School of Architecture
• Groundwork Atlanta