At its monthly meeting, the City Council confirmed the nine board members of the city’s new Redevelopment Authority. The new Authority will focus its efforts on identifying residential, recreational, business, commercial, and industrial areas that may benefit from reimagined uses which would be in better keeping with the current needs of the community.
A property identified as presenting a redevelop opportunity receives focused attention and financial investment to re-energize, create jobs and revitalize the business climate. The Redevelopment Authority can plan, administer and implement redevelopment and community improvement projects as well as provide assistance in identifying and obtaining public funding for industrial, commercial or residential improvements or expansion projects.
“Since our city was incorporated in July 2012, the city council has sought ways to reinvigorate areas of the city that may be renewed in ways more beneficial to Peachtree Corners,” said Mayor Mike Mason. “We believe establishing a Redevelopment Authority will have a positive impact and will benefit our entire city.”
Redevelopment plans can help communities to:
• Attract new jobs and businesses
• Stimulate private reinvestment in local neighborhoods and businesses
• Reduce crime
• Stimulate development of improvement programs
• Preserve open space
• Build or improve roads, utilities and public facilities.
“We are transitioning into an increasingly urbanized city, resulting in a decreasing amount of undeveloped property,” said the city’s manager, Brian Johnson. “This requires economic development activity to be more innovative as new projects have to be planned and built on previously developed properties.”
The Redevelopment Authority is organized under state law and is governed by a nine-member board who each serve two- and four-year staggered terms and are appointed by the City Council.
The inaugural members are: Shaun Adams, Michelle Lara, Jay Ashtiani, April Noa, Scott Haggard, Bo Reddic, Andrew Kroll, Sherry Scruggs, Jun Lin
All members are Peachtree Corners residents with broad backgrounds such as attorneys, real estate professionals, educators and engineers. The members come from all geographic areas of the city and include a mixture of different races and genders. Councilmember Phil Sadd and Mayor Pro Tem Weare Gratwick will serve as ex-officio non-voting members.
