The Chamblee Brief - October 26, 2026
By Jimmy Furst
Stay informed. Stay involved.
The Locomotive - One Big Thing
October 20 City Council Meeting Recap
The Chamblee City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. We covered several development requests, proposed ordinance changes, and other city business.
Here are some of the highlights from the meeting:
Development and Zoning
5800 Peachtree Road: Council deferred both the rezoning request and the Future Development Map amendment until the November City Council meeting.
2342 North Shallowford Road and East Johnson Circle: Council deferred the rezoning and Development of Community Impact (DCI) requests for these properties until November.
2700 Northeast Expressway: Council approved waivers 3, 4, 5, and 6 while denying waivers 1 and 2, with conditions.
4997 Buford Highway: Council approved four variances and several waiver requests while denying waivers 10 and 12, with conditions.
4317 Buford Highway: Council approved a variance request without conditions.
Proposed Ordinance Changes
Council held the first reading of proposed amendments to the City's massage ordinance. This was an initial reading, not final adoption.
Other Council Business
Human Resources Director Recruitment: Council ratified an agreement with Sumter Consulting to provide executive recruitment services for the City's Human Resources Director position.
Pet Adoption Spotlight: Lifeline Animal Project introduced Detective Landslide, an adoptable pet looking for a forever home.
Looking Ahead
Several significant development proposals were deferred until November, so there will be more to discuss at our next regular City Council meeting.
As always, I encourage residents to stay engaged with what is happening in Chamblee. City Council meetings are open to the public, and you can watch them online if you cannot attend in person.
You can watch the meeting HERE.
Council Dog of the Month
This detective has stolen the hearts of staff at LifeLine Animal Project. The only investigating Detective Landslide is doing involves figuring out how to climb into your lap and get the maximum number of pets and cuddles. He's calm, gentle, and sweet, easy to handle, and quite handsome, too, with beautiful caramel-colored fur and golden eyes. Detective Landslide is an easy dog to fall in love with and you will too!
Left the Station - This Past Week's Events
1800 Century Boulevard Demo
It's the end of an era! Watch the demolition of 1800 Century Boulevard.
Rivers Alive Nancy Creek Stream Cleanup
This weekend, the City of Chamblee Public Works Department and Keep Chamblee Beautiful hosted the Rivers Alive Nancy Creek Stream Cleanup! Thank you to all the volunteers who came out and helped keep our waterways clean!
KCB Keeps President's Circle Status
Keep Chamblee Beautiful has once again earned President's Circle status with Keep America Beautiful!
Through this accomplishment, Keep Chamblee Beautiful has upheld the KAB mission, values, and vision. Keep Chamblee Beautiful maintains certification in the KAB national network through compliance with the KAB annual reporting and fulfillment of the other necessary requirements.
Thank you to KCB and the staff in Chamblee's Grounds & Greenspace, Sanitation, and Stormwater Divisions for your hard work engaging the community and keeping our city clean, green, and beautiful!
At the Station - Ongoing Events in Chamblee
November Is Court Amnesty Month
Now is the time to take care of outstanding court matters! The City of Chamblee Municipal Court is offering an amnesty opportunity throughout November. Don't miss your chance to address outstanding citations and get back on track.
November 1-30, 2026
470-395-2335
4445 Buford Hwy NE
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Chamblee Day of the Dead Altar
The altar is up! You're invited to contribute photos, meaningful items, or nonperishable, sealed food items through November 6. This is a special opportunity to honor loved ones and celebrate their memory together. For questions or to coordinate a drop-off, please contact jduarte@chambleega.gov.
Early Voting Has Begun
On the Ballot: Georgia's Next Generation 911 Fund
Election Day is November 3, and there is more on the ballot than just candidates. Georgia voters will also decide on several proposed constitutional amendments.
One of those is Amendment 3 (House Resolution 1243), which would allow the Georgia General Assembly to establish a dedicated fund to modernize and maintain our state's 911 emergency communications systems.
If approved, the Georgia Next Generation 911 (NG911) Fund would support upgrades to emergency communications technology, including systems capable of receiving text messages, photos, and videos during emergencies. Money deposited into the fund could only be used for 911 operations, maintenance, and improvements.
Importantly, the amendment would authorize the creation of the fund. It would not automatically establish the fund or implement the upgrades. Public safety is one of the most important services government provides, and understanding how we fund those services matters. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to learn about this amendment and the other measures on the ballot before casting their vote.
How Does Chamblee Decide Which Roads Get Paved?
One of the questions I hear most often from residents is, "How can I get my road repaved?"
It's a fair question. We all want smooth, safe, and well-maintained roads in our neighborhoods. However, deciding which streets get paved and when is more involved than simply submitting a request.
Road maintenance is an important responsibility of local government, and I want residents to better understand how the process works. This video provides a helpful look at how road paving decisions are made in Chamblee and what residents should know about the process.
Watch the video below to learn more about how Chamblee approaches road repaving.
The latest paving schedule is below. Please note that the schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions.
Chamblee Cop N Stuff: Socktober Sock Drive
Chamblee Cop N Stuff is offering two ways to make a big difference this fall! They are hosting two donation drives from October 1 through November 1 to help those in need. They are also hosting a Thanksgiving Food Drive to collect nonperishable items for Thanksgiving meal boxes benefiting local families.
Suggested items include:
Boxed stuffing
Instant potatoes
Macaroni & cheese
Rice
Canned green beans
Canned corn
Canned yams
Cranberry sauce
Gravy (jar or packet)
Cornbread or muffin mix
Canned fruit
Dessert mixes
Grocery store gift cards (to purchase turkeys, hams, and other perishables)
Food donations can be dropped off at the Chamblee Public Safety Building. For more information, please contact Catherine Powe at 470-866-1501 or chambleecopnstuff@gmail.com
Front Yard Tree Program
Join the Trees Atlanta Front Yard Tree Program! Chamblee homeowners can request up to two trees to be planted in their yard at no cost. Planting season runs from October 2026 through March 2027. Submit an application via www.treesatlanta.org/yardtree.
Public Works Employee of the Month
Please join us in congratulating David Clarke as the Public Works Employee of the Month for the month of October. David provides exemplary service to the Public Works Department and the City of Chamblee and is a valuable and dependable member of the Stormwater team. Known for working across divisions to get things done, he excels at taking initiative, identifying necessary resources, and seeing projects through to completion.
David has proven to be a reliable presence on our stormwater construction and maintenance sites. He diligently oversees field operations, manages communication between contractors, staff, and residents, and skillfully resolves issues as they arise. This was recently demonstrated by his leadership on the complex Ellwyn Drive project, where he successfully balanced multiple contractors and homeowners. He is a vigilant steward of City resources, regularly seeking out operational and cost efficiencies. Always quick to lend a hand, David brings both a strong work ethic and a positive attitude—complete with a smile and a joke—that makes Public Works a better place to work.
Chamblee Introduces Curbside Composting
The City of Chamblee is partnering with CompostNow to bring curbside composting to all residents starting this October! For just $19 per month (plus a one-time $19 startup fee), you can divert food scraps from the landfill and turn them into nutrient-rich compost.
Why Compost?
Over 50% of what ends up in landfills is organic material that could be composted. In a landfill, that organic waste generates methane, a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than CO₂. Composting diverts those materials and transforms them into finished compost instead.
When finished compost is added to local soil, it sequesters carbon, improves water retention, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, and improves the nutrient value of our food.
When we build local compost systems for cycling nutrients back into the soil, we improve the climate resiliency of the community and create equitable opportunities for our local growers who strengthen our food supply chains and provide access to fresh, healthy food.
To learn more about the program and to sign up, click HERE.
Chamblee Arts Master Plan Survey
Chamblee is now updating its 2019 Arts Master Plan! The new five-year plan will reflect our community's priorities for public art, arts and culture events and programs, and more. You can learn more about the plan and take a survey to share your thoughts by scanning the QR code or visiting tinyurl.com/chambleeartsplan.
Arriving Soon - Upcoming Events in Chamblee
October 28: Final Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting of 2026
The last Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting of 2026 will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Arrow Creek Community Room at the Chamblee Police Department.
Come connect with the Chamblee Police Department's command staff, hear the latest crime statistics, and ask questions about public safety in our community.
October 30: No Office Hours
No office hours this week, but they will be back next week.
October 31: Dawgs vs. Gators!
Get ready to call the Dawgs! Join us at 3rd Spot, an official UGA Atlanta Alumni Chapter watch party location, as Georgia takes on Florida!
Saturday, October 31, 2026
3:30 p.m.
Downtown Chamblee (3518 Broad Street)
Find the perfect game-day meal and drinks with this interactive map of downtown restaurants: https://bit.ly/chamblee_takeout_locator
The Caboose
I would love to hear your questions, comments, or concerns.
Email: Jfurst@chambleega.gov
Mobile: 770-901-1121 The legal stuff: The views expressed are those of the author and may not reflect those 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 Chamblee resident and would like to discuss city business, please visit chambleega.gov or contact me at the email address above.
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