The Dunwoody City Council at its Aug. 24 meeting discussed its use of AI and the development of policies that would dictate the ethical use of the platform in city operations.
The policy would address, according to Ginger LePage, the city’s technology director, public trust and accountability, human oversight, lawfulness and transparency,
fairness and non-discrimination, and data protection and security.
LePage said a state Senate bill regarding responsible AI use, which was not passed by the legislature, was used as a guideline when drafting the policy. She also discussed the adoption of proposed updates to the city’s technology policy.
Ashwood development gets green light
The council also approved, by a 5-1 vote on second reading, a rezoning of several plats from Office-Industrial (O-I) to Planned Development (PD) to allow construction of 122 townhomes on 11 acres on Ashford Dunwoody Road that currently houses an office building and a large parking lot.
Madalyn Smith, the city’s senior planner, said the developer, Ashwood Grove LLC, in response to feedback from the council and the public, has designated four blocks of three, or 12 units, as “elevator-ready,” leaving room for buyers to install elevators if they wish.
The applicant also added a traffic study and other items to address concerns, including a rental cap for the community, designated bike parking, and dark-sky-compliant lighting.
“The applicant has really followed through to address concerns,” Smith said. “This is a well-designed project, and none of the feedback we have received has been negative.”
However, Council Member John Heneghan voted against the rezoning, saying that it did nothing to advance the provisions spelled out in the city’s comprehensive plan to supply housing to residents who want to age in place, and that the PD designation is inappropriate for townhomes.
“This use of the Planned Development zoning with no variances to make it easier on the applicant is deeply inappropriate because there are more appropriate zoning classifications that this project should be classified [under],” he said. “By using the shortcut Planned Development zoning, it is a slap in the face to those who follow the rules, and it cheapens the zoning oversight that we do here on the dais.”
The developers, in answer to questions from council, laid out a timeline for completion, estimating that homes may be ready a year from this fall, or the first quarter of 2028.
The council voted 5-1 to approve the rezoning, with the added conditions that the developers responsibly remove any reptile or amphibian life from an existing pond before it is renovated, and that natural grass be used instead of turf in certain areas of the development.
In other action, the council:
- was introduced to a Lifeline Animal Shelter dog named Kane, who is available for adoption.
- approved on the consent agenda meeting schedules for the 2027 council, board of zoning appeals, and planning commission.
- heard from a Mt. Vernon Road resident who is against the installation of a multi-use path in front of her home.
- also heard from Michelle Hirose, the city’s public works deputy director, about multiple efforts to address safety issues in the city’s streets and intersections.
- discussed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) for the design of the Top End I-285 Georgetown Trail project.
- listened to a presentation from Assistant City Manager Jay Vinicki, who discussed with the council procedures regarding an endowment to be made by the Georgia Conservancy, through Burton Ziskind and his family, to maintain green space at Homecoming Park.
