As you may be aware, the property of 1489 LaVista Road (on the SE corner of LaVista Road and Shepherds Lane) was recently purchased. It was purchased by Dr. Wendy Jacobson, a clinical psychologist in private practice and associated with Emory University. She plans to use this location as her new offices. This property was rezoned from residential to Office and Institutional (O&I) in 1981.
As the property stands today, the buildable area is restricted to being 50 feet from Shepherds Lane and 50 feet from LaVista Road. Dr. Jacobson is asking for a variance to alter these restrictions from 50 feet to 20 feet on Shepherds Lane and from 50 feet to 40 feet on LaVista Road.
Her plans as of today call for two one-story offices on the location; a 750 sq foot office which she will use and a 1500 sq foot office which she will rent out.
Dr. Jacobson has been advised by GA DOT (Department of Transportation) and DeKalb DOT to have two car access points, affecting both Shepherds Lane and LaVista Road.
Last Tuesday, members of LLCC, LaVista Park, and Woodland Hills Board of Directors met with Dr. Jacobson and her husband to discuss the details of her proposals.
There will be two public hearings regarding the property. The first meeting will be with the Zoning Board of Appeals on September 8th at 1:00 pm. The Zoning Board of Appeals will hear this matter regarding the setback reductions and possibly other related issues to this property. The second meeting will be on September 13th at 6:00 pm with the DeKalb County Planning & Development. This is a Public Administrative Hearing to discuss the potential impact of primary entrance on LaVista Road and a secondary entrance on Shepherds Lane.
Please plan to attend these meetings. The September 8th meeting at 1pm is being held at the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Dr, Decatur, GA 30294. The September 13th meeting will be held at 6:00 PM at 330 W. Pounce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030 on the 1st floor in Conference Room A.
Woodland Hills will be submitting a letter to the DeKalb County Board of Zoning and Appeals, as well as to the DeKalb County Planning and Development Department. WHNA Board Members are in discussions to formulate our stance regarding these developments. We plan to finalize them and email the Board's position to you on Friday.
Please make every effort to attend these meetings and have your voice heard.
Sincerely,
Brad Grulke
President, Woodland Hills Neighborhood Association
