Ruling paves way for developments at Briarcliff and North Druid Hills – Press release
Brookhaven, GA, Sept. 3, 2020 – A five-member arbitration panel appointed by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs issued their unanimous findings in the challenge by the County against property owners seeking annexation into the City of Brookhaven. The ruling settles issues involving Brookhaven’s annexation and the eventual redevelopment of 27 acres at the eastern side of the intersection of North Druid Hills and Briarcliff roads.
“This favorable ruling allows an exciting redevelopment opportunity to proceed and clears the way for the release of CARES Act funding intended for Brookhaven residents,” said Mayor John Ernst. “Many thanks to our outstanding trial team of Robbie Ashe and Jennifer Peterson at Bondurant Mixson Elmore and City Attorney Chris Balch of the Balch Law Group for the outstanding presentation of evidence and argument before the Panel.”
The Related Group has filed plans with the City of Brookhaven for a mixed-use development that includes a 7-story hotel, luxury apartments, office and other retail space at the site of a mostly-vacant strip shopping center at 2601 Briarcliff Road. Other properties seeking annexation include the Target shopping center, the QuikTrip, LensCrafters, Taco Bell, Boston Market, the Sherwin Williams store, and the Chick-fil-A near the same location.
Under the findings of the arbitration panel, the Related Group development can proceed as planned, but the remaining parcels will adhere to DeKalb County’s existing zoning for an additional year. Other recommendations of the panel include notifications to nearby residents regarding future zoning changes, and an opportunity for DeKalb County and DeKalb Schools to comment on any future developments involving tax abatements on the annexed property.
“Now that this is behind us, we can all get down to progress,” said Mayor Ernst.
