Update: The Atlanta City Council’s community development and human services committee work session that was set for Sept. 27 to discuss Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) boundaries has been postponed. A rescheduled date and time will be determined.
The work session was planned following the council’s Oct. 3 vote to amend the city’s Code of Ordinances to require that the council approve any changes to the existing boundaries of NPUs. This legislation requires any modifications to the boundaries to be reviewed and approved by council.
The legislation was in response to concerns raised by council members about the Atlanta’s Department of City Planning proposal to reduce the number of Southwest Atlanta NPUs from four to three, redraw boundary lines and reassign neighborhoods. The plan also wanted to dissolve NPU-R, which includes the Adams Park, Greenbriar, and Campbellton Road communities. The planning department came up with the proposal without input from the council.
Atlanta Progressive News delved into the reasons behind the move by DCP to dissolve NPU-R, including infighting on the board and a new economic focus on the area, which one DCP official said had the most vacant and undeveloped land of any of the city’s 25 NPUs.
There are 25 NPUs throughout Atlanta and they serve as citizen advisory councils that make recommendations to the mayor and city council on zoning, land use and other planning-related matters.
The NPUs are the official avenue for residents to express concerns and provide input in developing plans to address the needs of each neighborhood, as well as to receive updates from City government.
