The Land Use Committee is part of the Community Review Partners Process of the City of Atlanta. The following is designed as a general guide and introduction to the neighborhood review process, the terminology, and FAQ’s. It is designed to make the process more transparent and assist MNA members in understanding both the structure of the review process and to provide easier access to the most referenced concerns.
Composed of a board of residents this body reviews all permitted projects in the neighborhood that are remanded from either the DRC or the NPU. Applicants are required to make a presentation of their project to the applicable LUC committee. Each LUC consists of committee members representing the corresponding neighborhood residents. The LUC convenes monthly (or as needed) to comment on permit applications within the neighborhood.
The LUC reviews projects and makes recommendations to the MNA Board of Directors who vote to ratify such recommendations and send them, via the board’s representative, to the NPU-E. Members are appointed by the Chair and represent the various sub areas and interests of the neighborhood. Each member serves a one-year term. To volunteer for this committee, or for more information, please email landuse@midtownatlanta.org.
When you apply for a building permit you will be informed if your plans require an SAP, SUP or variance (s). If they do then your application will be sent to NPU-E where it will be forwarded to the MNA LUC for review and recommendation. You will be placed on the next regularly scheduled LUC meeting (3rd Tuesday of each month).
We ask that you forward to the LUC Chair a copy of your application (a copy of which will be held at the NPU-E) and digital copies of your plans and elevations. These will be distributed to the committee in advance of the meeting. This will allow the committee ample time to review your plans prior to your scheduled meeting so they are better informed of the conditions of your site and your intentions.
You should also discuss in advance your plans with your directly effected neighbors (those whose property is adjacent to yours). This will allow you to open a dialogue with your neighbor to see if they have any concerns or objections that can be addressed early in the process. You don’t want to discover an objection after you have submitted your application. Remember, its just being a good and considerate neighbor and can prevent bad feelings.
We recommend that you include in your submission to the LUC signed letters of support for your application from your neighbors. Should the LUC recommend not to oppose the application these letters will included in our recommendation and strengthen your case with the city.
When you come to the meeting you will present your application to the committee who will then ask you questions. All meetings are open to the public and after committee questions neighbors may be allowed to also ask questions or make comments.
The LUC will tell you that night if its recommendation is to oppose or not to oppose. A copy of its recommendation will be sent to you following the next MNA Board of Directors meeting (Last Thursday of the month). A copy will also be sent to the Chair of the NPU-E.
The LUC reviews applications in light of several factors.
Yes. The LUC is composed of residents, architects, planners and realtors and can provide you with the expertise you need free of charge. We encourage potential applicants to come to the LUC for informational meetings prior to submitting for a permit. Informational meetings are intended to assist the applicant and their design team on what types of variances, SAPs or SUPs are likely to get support and which are not. We believe knowing in advance what can be considered can save you valuable time and money and provide you with a less stressful path to getting your project approved.
What happens after my meeting with the LUC? You will be asked to attend the next NPU-E (first Tuesday of the month), where you will be asked if you presented to the MNA and if the MNA has a recommendation. You may be asked some questions at this meeting as well but you will not have to make a major presentation.
The NPU-E will vote on the recommendation and enter it into its voting report to the City of Atlanta. Your next meeting would be with the City of Atlanta’s ZRB or BZA depending on the nature of your application.
The City of Atlanta is divided into twenty-five Neighborhood Planning Units or NPUs, which are citizen advisory councils that make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on zoning, land use, and other planning issues. The NPU system was established in 1974 to provide an opportunity for citizens to participate actively in the Comprehensive Development Plan, now called the Atlanta Strategic Action Plan, which is the city’s vision for the next five, ten, and fifteen years. It is also used as a way for citizens to receive information concerning all functions of city government. The system enables citizens to express ideas and comment on city plans and proposals while assisting the city in developing plans that best meet the needs of their communities. The NPU is often composed of a series of congruent neighborhoods.
Midtown is part of NPU-E it is composed of Midtown, Ansley Park, Sherwood Forest, Brookwood Hills, Ardmore, Brookwood, Loring Heights, Atlantic Station, Home Park, Georgia Tech, and Marietta Street Artery.
The DRCs are City of Atlanta committees established as an advisory group for the purpose of providing to the Director of the Bureau of Planning formal comments on Special Administrative Permit (SAP), Special Use Permits and Variation requests associated with building permits within a particular SPI zoning District. Applicants are required to make a presentation of their project to the applicable DRC committee.
Each DRC consists of committee members representing the corresponding SPI district stakeholders, including: property owner(s), Business owner(s), or resident(s), and applicable neighborhood organization(s). The DRC convenes monthly (or as Needed) to comment on applications within a particular District. Each DRC has a time period of 30 days from the date the formal application is presented to the DRC to submit written recommendations concerning a project to the Director (or Staff designee) of the Bureau of Planning. Midtown has two Special Public Interest Zones numbers 16 & 17 respectively. Collectively they constitute the Midtown Improvement District or MID. The Midtown Alliance provides administrative assistance to the DRC in Midtown.
The Midtown Neighborhood is part of Neighborhood Planning Unit- E (NPU-E). It is bounded on the south by North Avenue, to the north along Peachtree where it crosses I-85, on the west by the Connector and on the east by Monroe Drive to Tenth Street along the southern edge of Piedmont Park up along Piedmont Rd to Fifteenth Street and then along Peachtree Street forming the border between Midtown, Ansley Park and Sherwood Forest. You can also visit the MAPS section of this section of the website.
Midtown contains three defined areas Midtown Garden District (the area of residential homes between Piedmont Rd on the west and Monroe Drive on the east, south of Tenth street and north of Ponce de Leon),as well as the Midtown Improvement District (MID); which is composed of two Special Public Interest Districts (SPI); SPI-16 and SPI-17. SPI-16 is the area designated west of Piedmont Road to the connector and could be considered the central business area of Midtown. SPI-17 is the area designated along Piedmont Road from North avenue to Fifteenth street.
