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September 2025 Council Meeting Recap

  • Writer: Jimmy Furst
    Jimmy Furst
  • Sep 24
  • 3 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.


Note: Mayor Mock was unavailable, so as Mayor Pro Tem, I ran the meeting. This means I was not able to vote on any of the items below.

ONE BIG THING:

Adoption of the text amendment to the UDO- Smoke/Vape Shops

I introduced an ordinance to prohibit vape and tobacco shops from opening near schools, and I’m happy to report that the Council UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED the ordinance. The ordinance is now codified. Ordinance excerpt:

No tobacco/vape products shop shall be located within 1,000 feet of any child care learning center; any public or private school offering general education courses; City or County recreation center, park, nature preserve, or garden; Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) station; any hospital; or any public library.

Many of you reached out to Council regarding this issue, and we were surprised to learn there was no existing law at the county or state level. I appreciate everyone's patience as we crafted this ordinance, and thank you for helping us make Chamblee safer for our children.

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Announcements and Presentations

Council Dog of the Month

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Ordinances-2nd Read

Council APPROVED amendments to Chapter 6 of the Alcohol Ordinance. The amendments create a new license type for “Complimentary Beer/Wine Establishments,” allowing approved Grooming Service businesses to offer limited complimentary pours to their patrons. Service is restricted to no more than 12 ounces of beer or 6 ounces of wine per person within 24 hours.

Council APPROVED amendments to Chapter 22-Article IX of the Dealers of Precious Metals and Gems Ordinance. The amendment updates fingerprinting provisions for Precious Metals and Gems dealers, allowing the City to meet the requirements set by the Georgia Crime Information Center and the FBI for conducting state and national background checks on permit applicants.


Council APPROVED amendments to Chapter 86-Article IV of the Booting of Vehicles on Private Property Ordinance. The amendments update fingerprinting provisions for Vehicle Immobilization Service Permits and Operators of a Vehicle Immobilization Device Permits, allowing the City to meet Georgia Crime Information Center and FBI requirements for conducting state and national background checks on applicants.

Ordinances-2nd Read

Transient Pet Sales Ordinance

I've been working with Councilman Stovall to introduce an ordinance to ban sidewalk pet sales in our city. These sales often take place in unsafe, unregulated environments where animals are kept in poor conditions, without proper food, water, or shelter. Many of these pets come from irresponsible breeders or puppy mills, and buyers have little to no information about the animal’s health or background. Sidewalk sales also create public health and safety concerns by increasing the risk of spreading disease and placing animals in stressful, unhealthy situations. By banning this practice, we can better protect animals, prevent consumer exploitation, and encourage adoption from reputable shelters and rescue organizations.

This ordinance will move to a second reading next month before we can vote.

Staff Action Items

Trees Atlanta Service Agreement Renewal

Council APPROVED the Mayor to execute the annual service agreement renewal with Trees Atlanta for the continuation of the City's Front Yard. Remember that you can get one tree planted for free in your front yard. Click HERE for the application.


PZ2025-1524: 3381
 Malone Drive.

Another dumpster variance, which Council APPROVED.


PZ2025-1537: 3527, 3535, 3543 & 3553 Chamblee Dunwoody Road.

The applicant applied to build a 231,000+ square foot, eight-story mixed-use building. The project will bring 315 new apartments, 6,300 square feet of ground-floor retail, and a podium-style parking deck with 338 spaces.

The design also features a rooftop “Downtown” sign facing Chamblee Dunwoody Road and American Way. Along Chamblee Dunwoody Road, the applicant is proposing a 32-foot-wide streetscape that will include a 5-foot landscape strip, a 12-foot trail segment, and a 15-foot supplemental zone to enhance walkability and connectivity. This project brings rail trail, sustainability, and more retail to downtown. I was not able to vote, but it was APPROVED by Council.


New Planning and Development Director

APPROVAL to appoint Matthew Adams as the new Planning & Development
 Director for the City of Chamblee. Welcome to Chamblee!


Please send me your questions, comments, or concerns.



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.



 
 
 

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