Sandy Springs Mayor Gives State of the City Address to Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber

3/2/17

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul gave his highly-anticipated “State of the City” address at a luncheon Feb. 28 sponsored by the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber (SSPC). Mayor Paul’s annual address is one of the most popular lunchtime programs offered by the Chamber, and, like last year, was sold out, according to SSPC President Tom Mahaffey.

Mayor Paul, now into the fourth year of his mayoral term, told the crowd that while he always enjoys addressing Chamber members and guests at the luncheon meeting, he hopes his next State of the City address will be held at the new City Springs Civic and Cultural Center.

“Nearly four years ago when I took office, I told you my goal was to help Sandy Springs become the most envied community in the metro Atlanta area,” said Mayor Paul. “I believe we have achieved that goal. People come to the area to do business, and they find that Sandy Springs has all the elements needed to help them succeed. We have an exceptional quality of life, great people and a wonderful location.”

One of the key achievements of the past few years, according to the mayor, has been the design and construction of the new City Springs development, scheduled to open later this year. Not only will it serve as the heart of the city, but it will be the crown jewel in the redevelopment of Roswell Road, which the mayor says has resembled “a broken tiara” with its alternating pockets of new and outdated development.

The mayor cautioned that the continued success of Sandy Springs depends on a new, comprehensive land use plan and zoning, as well as transportation alternatives to address growing traffic congestion. The comprehensive plan and small area plans recently were adopted by the City Council after review and approval by the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. “The high volume of development in recent years has caused a lot of consternation in many of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Paul. “Our new plan protects the neighborhoods and clearly identifies key areas and uses, like the Perimeter Center district, our economic engine, Roswell Road, the city’s main artery, and the Powers Ferry area, which will be greatly affected by traffic to and from SunTrust Stadium.”

Addressing the current zoning moratorium in the city, Mayor Paul said “Temporarily stopping new development is not ideal, but we had to get our arms around our rapid growth. We need to take the uncertainty and questions out of the development process, and I believe our new plan accomplishes this. We should be able to lift the moratorium by the end of the summer so we can maintain the excitement and vibrancy of Sandy Springs.”

No State of the City address would be complete without discussing Sandy Springs’ traffic challenges. The mayor acknowledged that he and his team have spent “an inordinate amount of time on the issue”. He stressed that any meaningful transportation solutions must be regional solutions, requiring regional partners who are on board with this larger vision. “We cannot build enough roads to solve our congestion problem,” said the mayor. “We must invest in some sort of rail system that is regional in scope. If we don’t, then we are consigning our city to second class status and I am not willing to be responsible for this.”

As he reviewed past accomplishments and future initiatives, Mayor Paul said his greatest regret is that the late Eva Galambos, founding mayor of Sandy Springs, will not be present at the grand opening of City Springs. “When I was elected Mayor, I knew I had some tremendous shoes to fill,” say Mayor Paul. “After Eva died, her daughter gave me a pair of her shoes. I keep them in my office, so that the shoes I have been charged to fill are always right in front of me.”

About the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber

The Chamber was formed in 2008 to serve businesses in the City of Sandy Springs and the north Perimeter area. With leadership from an elected Board of Directors, and working in partnership with city government, the Chamber’s mission is to maximize the business success of its members, strengthen the competitiveness of the Sandy Springs business community and enhance economic prosperity of the area. Ongoing initiatives include workforce and economic development, business education, community service and networking opportunities for members. Tom Mahaffey is president of the Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber. www.SSPChamber.org

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