Late Thursday afternoon (May 9), DeKalb Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson issued her ruling, and the outcome is not good: She dismissed our appeal of the Clifton Ridge subdivision plat approval on the basis of the developer’s challenge to our standing to bring the action. She did not reach the underlying merits of our action. However, standing was one of the most fundamental issues of several legal challenges, so it is a definite setback. We will appeal what we strongly believe is an incorrect ruling. But like so many issues involved in this 10-year fight, the judge’s decision – and its impact – is complex, and is best explained in person.

Please join us for a neighborhood meeting this Thursday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Emory Presbyterian Church, 1886 N. Decatur Rd., where we’ve held our previous Deny Clifton Ridge meetings. We’ll also discuss our strategies moving forward, and we want your input – so it is extremely important you attend.

Thanks for staying involved,

Steering Committee
Deny Clifton Ridge/Preserve Druid Hills

We’ve waited to update you on both the legislative and legal fight against the proposed Clifton Ridge subdivision until the pace of events had somewhat settled down.

On the legislative front, the news is all good! Thanks to the efforts of many folks (too many to mention each individually), we successfully stopped the developers’ bill (HB 474) in its tracks. It didn’t even make it out of its original committee hearing and, as we learned when the session ended on March 28, it wasn’t attached as a rider to any other bill. Special thanks to our neighbor Drew Graham of the law firm Hall, Booth & Smith and that firm’s government affairs attorneys Brad Carver and Scott Cole, as well as to our legislators Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, Rep. Howard Mosby, and Sen. Jason Carter.

On the litigation front, as you know we had a hearing before DeKalb Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson on March 18. About 50 dedicated neighbors attended the contentious and complicated seven-hour session. And we’re pleased to report that thus far all rulings have been in our favor — plus, the developers have agreed to leave the Temporary Restraining Order in place until Judge Jackson rules on a number of the issues heard at the March hearing.

Judge Jackson can rule on any or all of the issues heard at any time and we will keep you posted when the Judge rules.

That means things are, as one of our attorneys, Rob Benfield, put it, “mercifully quiet on the litigation battle front” right now. As hard and smart and long as Rob has fought for us, he certainly deserves a breather! We believe our case is as solid and right as it always has been — now we must trust that Judge Jackson will come to that same conclusion.

Thanks for continuing your support and determination to Deny Clifton Ridge/Preserve Druid Hills. We’ll let you know as soon as any rulings are announced

“We are delighted to share some of the compelling ways that residents have transformed their homes to accommodate modern use,” says Barbara Vogel, chair of the Druid Hills Homes & Gardens Committee. “By highlighting the adaptive spaces, we hope to inspire visitors to consider new inspirational designs that complement the neighborhood’s historic legacy.”

The event, sponsored by the Druid Hills Civic Association, takes place April 19-20, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and April 21, 1-5 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance (insert clickhere button with link to purchase page). Proceeds from the tour and associated events benefit the Druid Hills neighborhood, which the noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed during the late 19th century.

We also need volunteers to serve as docents for the tour. Volunteers receive a free tour ticket, a $30 value, and are invited to the volunteer “Thank You” party after the tour. Visit http://druidhills.org/2013-tour-volunteers-docents/ to signup.

Board Members:
Susan Anne McKenna
Becky Evans
Virginia Dupree
Scott Storbeck
Joanna Stroud
Elise Riley
Cynthia Waterbury
TBD

Nominations for Officers and Board Members of the Civic Association are needed and welcomed. PLEASE think about people who love the neighborhood, care about the future of the neighborhood, and would set aside a little time to do something for the neighborhood. (Yourself included!)

E-mail your nomination (name, address, even if only street, phone number, email, division) to nominating@druidhills.org.

Deadline: February 1

The Nominating Committee is appointed by the DHCA President.

For descriptions of the duties of Board Members, as well as all Officers, go to http://www.druidhills.org and mouse over the “About Us” section of the main navigation then click on “By Laws” or click here.

Thank You,
Justin Critz, Nominations Committee Chairperson

The Clifton Ridge developer claims that the Land Disturbance Permit he obtained gives him permission to begin cutting trees, which he did on Jan. 18. We got a Temporary Restraining Order that same afternoon, which stopped the destruction.

But tree cutting could begin again just days after this appeals hearing – that’s why we MUST HAVE A STRONG SHOW OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT AT THE HEARING. You need to be there right at 1 p.m. We’ll have Deny Clifton Ridge/Preserve Druid Hills badges for everyone, and we’re near the top of the agenda, so you won’t have to stay long. We will be able to STAND IN SUPPORT of Preserving Druid Hills.

Please come, and bring as many neighbors as you can! And if you haven’t donated yet to our legal fund, you please do it right now.

For the past ten years, the Druid Hills Civic Association has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits with lawyer/developer Robert Buckler, who wants to crowd seven houses on three adjoining heavily wooded lots, next to Burbanck Park – at the corner of Clifton and Oxford.

Should this development be allowed, the nature and character of Druid Hills WILL CHANGE FOREVER.

To learn more about the fight to Deny The Clifton Ridge development, click here.

We need your help, please DONATE right now – standing together, we CAN win this fight.

The meeting will begin with three speakers:

Chip Elliott, a coyote trapper who has been working throughout the metro Atlanta area for over 20 years. He was recently hired by private citizens to trap coyotes in Druid Hills.

Chris Mowry, an associate professor and head of the biology department at Berry College. A former resident of Druid Hills, he has studied coyotes in the southeast and Yellowstone National Park, and he’s currently talking with local and state officials about a proposal to study coyotes in Atlanta.

Mary A. Paglieri, a consultant with Little Blue Society in the San Francisco area. The Society specializes in human-animal conflict resolution, and Mary is the Director of Program Design and Implementation.

The speakers will be followed by a generous Q&A period.

The Church of the Epiphany is located at the corner of East Lake Rd. and Ponce de Leon Ave. (2089 Ponce de Leon Ave; Atlanta, GA 30307). The entrance drive to the church is on East Lake Rd. The meeting will be held in the parish hall.

As the Druid Hills Civic Association approaches its 75th anniversary, we ask that you take a walk or drive through our neighborhood, watch the last leaves fall from the trees – and promptly join or renew your membership for 2013.

While our recent survey indicates that we have work to do, please consider that the Druid Hills Civic Association is an organization of volunteers that has kept faith with our community in three ways with which we all can agree:
Preservation of the parks, streetscapes, and architecture which were central to the vision of the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted;
Perpetuation of the essential residential nature of Druid Hills, minimizing commercial intrusion; and
Protection from high-density development.

At the close of the year, many of us feel overwhelmed by requests for our beneficence. We believe that the Druid Hills Civic Association should stay high on your list. After all, for 75 years we have represented the place where you live!

HOW TO JOIN OR RENEW:
-Online via PayPal at: druidhills.org/join-the-dhca
-Obtain a Printable Membership Form. Make checks payable to “Druid Hills Civic Association” and mail to: P.O. Box 363, Decatur, GA 30031.

Thank you for your generosity and support.
DHCA Membership Committee

Back by popular demand, our neighborhood yard sale! A easy way to get rid of your unwanted stuff and keep all the money you make from your sales. No fuss, no hassle! The Druid Hills Civic Association will advertise the sale in the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the surrounding neighborhood. Plus a yard sale sign will be provided for your yard. All you have to do is drag your stuff to your front yard and start selling!

The American Kidney Fund will have trucks in the neighborhood picking up items you want to leave on the curb at the end of yard sale day. What a deal! You make money and don’t have to take anything back into the house at the end of the day. The DHCA will also have a map locating all participating houses on the DHCA website. Registration cost is only $25.00.

Three simple steps to register (Registration is now closed):
1. Please e-mail your full name, phone# and street address to yardsale@druidhills.org. Also, please let us know if you want the American Kidney Fund to pick up left over yard sale items at your house? You will receive a reply with additional information.
2. Pay the $25 fee using PayPal. Your PayPal email receipt will serve as your payment confirmation.
3. Start getting your sale items ready!

For more information, please contact:
DHCA Yard Sale
PO Box 363
Decatur, GA. 30031-0363