December 2025 Council Meeting Recap

Jimmy Furst
Dec 31, 2025
6 min read

Below is my recap of the latest Council Meeting with my thoughts, which don't represent the Mayor or the rest of the Council.

Click HERE for the agendas and videos for this month's Council meetings.

TL;DR

Announcements and Presentations

Council Dog of the Month

Sweet Guppy is an adorable pup looking for a new home! She's potty trained, crate trained, loves to cuddle, walks politely on a leash, and loves kids. She has diabetes and will need a family dedicated to managing her health and giving her the consistent care she deserves. Help her build her confidence and show her how wonderful life outside the shelter can be by adopting her today at LifeLine Animal Project.

Adopt Guppy today at LifeLine Animal Project!

City Center

A presentation on the City Center was given.

Staff Action Items

1) Adoption of the FY2026 Budget Resolution.

As we developed the 2026 budget -a six-month process- the City successfully issued a $30 million parks and trails bond while maintaining our strong AA+ and AA2 credit ratings. These ratings reflect Chamblee’s solid financial position and continued commitment to responsible budgeting.

While property value growth has slowed and inflation continues to impact operating costs, this year’s proposed budget focuses on sustaining high-quality services following several years of expansion. Rising costs are primarily driven by employee healthcare, utilities, and custodial services.

Even with these challenges, the budget continues to advance key priorities:

Strategic Investments

Renewable energy improvements in city facilities
Technology upgrades and a new investigator for the Real Time Crime Center
An Economic Development Strategic Assessment in partnership with Georgia Tech
New budgeting software to improve transparency
Enhanced city events, including celebrations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The Numbers

Total Revenues & Expenditures: $35.99 million
Flat compared to FY 2025
Balanced budget with continued monitoring of revenue trends

Major Capital Projects

Broad Street streetscape and utility improvements
Chamblee Dunwoody Road Diet and roundabouts
Rail Trail expansions and park investments (including Fishbolt Park)
Road paving, Dresden Trail progress, and safety upgrades along key corridors

Enterprise Funds

Gradual sanitation fee increases to support long-term operations
Stormwater system assessments and $1.5M in infrastructure improvements
Debt service for the new Public Works building

The proposed budget must be adopted before January 1, 2026, and the COUNCIL APPROVED the budget as presented by staff.

2) Adoption of the Resolution for the 2026 Fee Schedule

The majority of the fees remained the same, but I would like to highlight one update to our Sanitation Fee.

Chamblee currently provides garbage, recycling, and yard waste services to 5,247 homes. While the annual sanitation fee of $285 generates approximately $1.5 million each year, the total cost to operate the service is roughly $2.6 million, leaving a $1.1 million gap that is covered by the City’s General Fund.

To ensure long-term financial sustainability and continue delivering the high level of service Chamblee residents expect, staff is recommending a gradual increase in the annual sanitation fee to $495. The adjustment would be phased in over three years at $70 per year—an increase of about $5.83 per month annually—until the full rate is reached.

Chamblee’s sanitation services remain among the strongest in the region, and this proposal helps us maintain exceptional service without reducing quality or frequency.

Council APPROVED the fee schedule.

3) Sexton Woods Raised Crosswalk

With increased pedestrian activity near the new section of the Rail Trail between Sexton Woods Drive and Keswick Park, the City proposed the installation of a raised crosswalk at the trail entrance on Sexton Woods Drive to improve safety and connectivity. After reviewing bids from multiple contractors, the staff recommends awarding the project to Gracie Gray Contractors for an amount not to exceed $39,285.10, funded through SPLOST.

Council APPROVED this item.

4) Nancy Creek West Trail Easement Secured

The City has reached an agreement with Chamblee First United Methodist Church to acquire a key easement for the future Nancy Creek West Trail. This access allows us to move forward with an important connection in our expanding trail network. Thank you to our residents for approving the Parks and Trails Bond, which makes investments like this possible. To learn more about the project, visit the Trail Master Plan on the City’s website.

5) 3641 Pierce Drive

A property owner at 3641–3643 Pierce Drive requested a variance to allow a commercial dumpster enclosure in the side yard instead of the rear yard, as normally required by zoning. City staff recommended approval with two conditions: the project had to match the submitted site plan, and the applicant had to secure permission to access the dumpster using the neighboring driveway.

Council APPROVED this item.

6) 3645 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

City Council approved a variance for Yager Family Medicine to construct a dumpster enclosure on their corner property at Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Ivy Lane. The request allowed the enclosure to be placed in the Ivy Lane street-side yard, which is typically not permitted under zoning rules.

As a condition of approval, the enclosure had to be built in substantial conformity with the submitted site plan and use brick or masonry materials that complement the existing building.

7) Chamblee City Center -3525 and 3519 Broad Street; 5520, 5546, and 5554 Peachtree Road, 3514 Ingersoll Rand Drive; and 2155 and 2161 Irvindale Drive

I am pleased to share details regarding a significant new project that will continue the revitalization of our city. This project was 12 years in the works and is designed to be a new destination for our community to gather, shop, and enjoy the outdoors.

What’s Coming? The project features a 340-unit residential community spread across two modern buildings. More importantly for our local economy and lifestyle, it includes 30,000 square feet of new retail, restaurant, and commercial space across four buildings. This means more local dining and shopping options right here in our backyard.

Green Space and Connectivity One of the most exciting aspects of this proposal is the commitment to public space and walkability:

A New Town Green: A 1-acre public park will serve as a centerpiece for the community.
Rail Trail Expansion: The developer will install 12-foot-wide segments of the Rail Trail along Peachtree Road and Ingersoll Rand Drive, making our city more bike- and pedestrian-friendly.
Streetscape Improvements: New streetscapes and on-street parallel parking will be added to all frontages to improve the look and feel of our corridors.

Sustainability and Parking: We are keeping a focus on the future with this project. The buildings are pursuing NGBS Green Building Silver Certification, ensuring they meet high standards for energy efficiency. To manage traffic and density, the site includes a 599-space parking garage that is "wrapped" by the residential building, keeping the parking tucked away and out of sight to maintain our city's aesthetic.

This development represents a thoughtful blend of housing, commerce, and public recreation, and I can't wait to see this project come out of the ground. The impact on our downtown can't be overstated.

Council APPROVED this item.

8) 4847 Peachtree Road

City Council reviewed a sign variance request for Souper Jenny Chamblee, located at 4847 Peachtree Road. The restaurant requested permission to install a roof sign, which is not typically allowed under current zoning regulations for the Village Commercial district. Staff recommended approval, and the Council APPROVED this application with conditions. Welcome to Chamblee!

9) 1974, 1980, and 1982 5th Street

A request was APPROVED for a new parking lot serving the existing flight school and aviation businesses on 5th Street. The project keeps the current buildings in place while adding new parking with permeable pavers and retaining walls.

To make the design work, several variances and waivers were granted, including:

Allowing a few parking spaces in front of the buildings along 5th Street
Using permeable pavers instead of standard asphalt or concrete
Removing some typical parking requirements, such as painted lines, wheel bumpers, and landscape islands
Waiving the rule for a designated pedestrian walkway from the parking lot to building entrances and public sidewalks

This project aims to improve parking access for aviation students and customers while using more environmentally friendly materials where possible.

10) 4900 Peachtree Road

Discount Tire requested a modification to its approved rezoning and site plan. The business was originally approved for a drive-through configuration in 2023, but during final inspections, the City found the “as-built” layout did not match the plan approved by Council. Specifically, a planned parking island with three parking spaces, a drainage inlet, and landscaping was not installed. The applicant is now seeking approval of the current layout instead of making those changes.

The request included several variances and waivers related to drive-through placement, parking layout, and the elimination of a bypass lane. This item was DEFERRED after the applicant submitted revised plans in response to Council’s safety concerns.

Please send me your questions, comments, or concerns.

Email: Jfurst@chambleega.gov

Mobile: 770-901-1121

The legal stuff: The views expressed represent the views of the author and may not reflect the views of the Chamblee City Council. Comments posted in response to a Councilmember-initiated communication may be subject to public disclosure under the Open Records Act. If you are a resident of Chamblee and would like to discuss city business, please go to chambleega.gov or contact me at the email above.