Dear Mayor, I drive around your downtown

Image from here

A note to the Mayor, City Manager, Public Works, and Planning & Zoning about the entrance of Historic Stone Mountain Village

Attention:
Mayor: Ms. Patricia Wheeler
City Manager / Engineering: Mr. Barry Amos
Parks and Recreation/ Public Works: Mr. Jim Tavenner
City Clerk / Planning & Zoning/ Bldg Dept: Ms. Denise Hicks

GRAPHICS TO PROPOSAL

The City of Stone Mountain is a wonderful community that is surround by history and natural wonders. 

The people are investing in the cities future by its Main Street project and Downtown redevelopment infinitives. 

The city has a feature that other cities would love to have – the iconic Stone Mountain!

People, near and far, are coming to downtown Stone Mountain to participate in the growing art scene and attend city sponsored events.  

However, a large amount of potential visitors, business partners, and residents are turned off because of the difficult downtown access due to traffic congestion at the entrance to the city. 

This first impression becomes an eye sore as traffic stalls due to one car trying to access Stone Mountain Park.  Frustration grows, and the labor the residents, elected offices, and business partners is never seen because everyone avoids downtown because of the extreme traffic conditions. 

This hurts the City of Stone Mountain, Stone Mountain Park, and the business owners. 

The attached is a remedy that can add value to the residents of Stone Mountain and its development.

1.       Evaluation

a.       Traffic

 i.      One vehicle turning left to Stone Mountain Park off Ponce causes a backup of traffic that can push all the way to the off ramp.   

b.      Appearance

 i.      The existing filling station and parking lot is an eye sore to the cities entrance. 

 ii.      Power lines going every which way blocks the view of Stone Mountain and focus attention to the filling station

c.       Reckless driving

 i.      Impatience drivers take congested traffic into their own hands by driving though the vacant lot adjacent to the filling station. 

2.       Solution

a.       Roundabout

 i.      A roundabout allows for a consist flow of traffic.  Having (1) car turning left will not disturb all of the traffic. 

 ii.      Due to the nature of the 5 way intersection, all roads can be integrated into the roundabout.   

iii.      Create  green space.  The center of the roundabout can become a wonderful signage opportunity or landscape feature for the city, rather than an eye sore. 

b.      Power line

i.      Bury power lines.

1.       Create a visual corridor to the feature of the city – Stone Mountain. 

c.       Landscape / Streetscape

 i.      Create a visual barrier to the run down filling station and gravel lot.

1.       The welcome to Stone Mountain should not be - Welcome to Stone Mountain, here’s a gravel lot and a rundown filling station. 

 ii.      Create a granite wall with landscaping that create a vehicular way, dedicated separate bike drive and finally the designated parking area that has a singular entrance. 

1.       There is no separation between the filling station and the street right now

When the city takes pride in what they do, the citizens will follow.  

If the city allows building to deteriorate, infrastructure to be ran any which way, and for basic traffic laws to be broken - it will attract undesired residents and company.  

Take Pride Stone Mountain Village

I'll update with any responses or actions!