Tucker, GA — The Tucker City Council held two separate called meetings May 2, to review changes to the mixed-use Tucker Exchange project at 2059 Northlake Parkway, and to further discuss the city’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

Updates to the Special Land Use Permit for the Tucker Exchange development include the addition of restaurant and retail to office, coworking, and multi-family residential as planned uses for the space, and the expansion of units offered from only one and two bedroom units to studio, one, two, and three bedroom units.

Density and height of the buildings were topics of concern expressed by the public at the April city council regular meeting. The plans now specify a maximum of 340 multi-family units in three residential buildings and a maximum of 129 residential units in the existing office building. Two apartment buildings closest to Northlake Parkway have been reduced to six stories, and a third apartment building has been reduced to seven stories, all of which are shorter than the existing building.  This represents a reduction in density down to what attorney Den Webb described as AHS Residential’s “break even” point.

Additionally, the permit includes specifications for a minimum of 15% workforce housing units, “defined as housing that is affordable to households earning between 80 and 140 percent of area median income.” The permit stipulates that those units must be comparable to and interspersed among other units, and that the owner must submit proof of compliance every year by December 31.

Other requirements include construction of walkways subject to approval by the City Engineer, and stormwater management.

During discussion, council members suggested more green space next to the street, which will be incorporated into the revised design.

The city will be deciding on the project at the May 9 regular meeting, where there will be an opportunity for public comment.

Parks and Recreation director Rip Robertson requested additional funding for staff and programs in the FY 23 budget. He said that although expansion was delayed due to the pandemic, his department is on track to increase programs and events according to the city’s existing master plan for the department. Robertson stated that expansion of the department’s budget for staff and supplies was driven by acquisition of new parks as well as increased participation in programs.

Robertson wants to create a program coordinator position and hire a full-time marketing person. Some discussion followed whether a devoted marketing staff position for parks and recreation should be in that department or the city’s communications department.

Capital improvement requests included $475,000 in signage, a new John’s Homestead project, and improvements at Lord Park and the Rosenfeld tennis courts, in addition to sports field improvements at Cofer, Henderson, and Rosenfeld parks.

City council member Noelle Monferdini suggested that an additional $425,000 in improvements at Fitzgerald be presented to the council later in the year after some public meetings about what people want to see at the park.

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