From Emily BoatrightChair, Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods 404.518.2990 (UHNA is a member org of BCN)
Our next Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods meeting will be held Thursday, November 12, at 6:45 p.m., at Piedmont Center, Tower 15 (3575 Piedmont Road NE). The meeting space is located on the lower level and is accessible via the lobby elevators. In addition to a presentation by the Atlanta BeltLine, we have urgent and important information to share regarding Atlanta’s Zoning 2.0 process that could significantly affect all of our neighborhoods. We are asking every BCN neighborhood to have at least one representative in attendance.
As many of you know, Atlanta residents invested considerable time and effort over several years participating in the development of Plan A, the City’s Comprehensive Development Plan, and the proposed Zoning 2.0 rewrite. Neighborhood leaders attended meetings, reviewed proposals, and submitted comments in good faith, with the understanding that their input would help shape Atlanta’s future.
The October 15 City Council work session raised important questions about whether that work will remain the foundation for the final zoning legislation.
Following the work session, the Administration has continued working with outside consultant Sara Bronin and Land Use Labs to review and refine the proposed code. Recommendations under consideration include potentially significant changes to residential zoning, housing opportunities, parking requirements, and other provisions that could affect established neighborhoods.
Zoning 2.0 is currently held in the City Council Zoning Committee. The Administration stated at the Zoning Committee meeting on October 26, 2026, plans to introduce substitute legislation on November 23, potentially incorporating recommendations that were not part of the original draft developed through extensive public engagement.
The anticipated legislative timeline is:
- November 23: Introduction of substitute legislation
- December 14: Potential Zoning Committee vote
- January 2027: Formal NPU review begins
- March 2027: Targeted final City Council action
Under this schedule, the substitute legislation could advance out of committee in December, before NPUs begin their formal review in January.
To date, discussions about potential revisions have occurred primarily at the Administration and Council committee levels, while NPUs have not yet been formally engaged in reviewing the forthcoming substitute.
Neighborhood organizations typically meet monthly, and their representatives need adequate time to review legislation, consult with residents, and communicate their neighborhoods’ positions. The proposed timeline raises concerns about whether there will be sufficient opportunity for meaningful neighborhood participation, particularly if the substitute contains substantial changes to the previously reviewed draft.
Another important question is how substantive revisions align with the adopted Comprehensive Development Plan. The Administration has cited Plan A’s housing affordability goals as a basis for considering additional housing opportunities across Atlanta’s neighborhoods. However, Plan A also addresses infrastructure, environmental protections, neighborhood character, and where future growth should occur. Proposed zoning changes should be evaluated against the full planning framework, with a clear explanation of how specific recommendations implement adopted policies.
This is not about opposing growth or resisting necessary improvements to Atlanta’s zoning code. It is about ensuring that changes are thoughtful, transparent, consistent with adopted planning policies, and informed by the communities they will affect.
BCN represents neighborhoods with different characteristics, needs, and perspectives. We do not have to agree on every zoning provision to recognize the importance of meaningful public participation and a thoughtful legislative process.