Druid Hills Residents Fight Clifton Ridge Subdivision

A Special Task Force working with the
Druid Hills Civic Association

As many of you are aware, our community of Druid Hills has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits with lawyer/developer Robert Buckler for the past 10 years concerning three adjoining lots, each zoned for a single house.

Mr. Buckler wants to crowd seven houses, a cul-de-sac and a detention pond onto those three heavily wooded lots, which adjoin Burbanck Park at the corner of Clifton and Oxford. He is calling his proposed subdivision Clifton Ridge.

The story of this ongoing struggle is long, complex, and sullied by political maneuvers, and still the outcome is not yet certain. But, the Battle of Clifton Ridge is now certainly at its legal apex: construction fencing surrounds the property, and many hardwoods have recently been cut. The day of reckoning draws very near.

A fight that is ours together has been fought valiantly by a small team of extraordinarily devoted Druid Hills Civic Association leaders and neighborhood volunteer attorneys. The time has come for the rest of us to join them to keep a sea change for our community at bay. This must happen or we will be drawn perilously close to the brink.

What can be lost is this: Our historic neighborhood, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and free of the McMansions which pollute other communities across the country, will no longer be safe from the whim of any developer.

And aggressive developers will come. They will come and we will not have the protection of the Historic Preservation Commission, which currently acts as a shield against such development by enforcing current preservation laws. The Clifton Ridge subdivision developer is clearly trying to circumvent this law.

We will fight the changing strategies of our adversary, but should Robert Buckler prevail in his fight against our community, the face of Druid Hills WILL change forever.

This is a call to arms, if ever there was one. Show that you chose this community for reasons for which you are willing to fight.

You are needed, all of you. There are a several ways for you to come aboard:

Contribute to the Deny Clifton Ridge legal fund right now by clicking on the Donate button.

Please try to donate at least $100. Our fight is that important, plus every dollar contributed will be matched by DHCA, up to $25, 000. Your donation will be used only for this campaign.

Come to the crucial Zoning Appeals Board hearing on February 13 at 1 p.m., at the Maloof Building, 1300 Commerce Dr., Decatur. (Map Below)

A strong, visible show of support from our community is vital.

Call DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis’ office: 404-371-2881, and send him an email: ceo@dekalbcountyga.gov Register your opposition to the proposed Clifton Ridge subdivision, which would crowd seven houses on lots zoned for just three. Express your support for the Historic Preservation Commission, and say that the developer, Robert Buckler, should have to gain the same HPC approval for changes that every Druid Hills property owner does.

Volunteer your time for our Deny Clifton Ridge campaign. Contact Cynthia Waterbury, waterbud@att.net or call 404-378-5940.

To educate yourself even further about the history of our Deny Clifton Ridge fight, click here (Link Coming Soon).

But first, please DONATE right now – standing together, we CAN win this fight.