Sandy Springs to Host Public Open House Regarding Nancy Creek Declared Sensitive Area

WHAT: The open house will provide the community the opportunity to review the proposed stormwater text amendments to the Nancy Creek Declared Sensitive Area (DSA). There will not be a formal presentation, but City of Sandy Springs representatives will be available to discuss the proposed amendments and answer questions.

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 9, 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Sandy Springs City Hall, Barfield Room, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA 30328

Background: The Nancy Creek Basin begins in DeKalb County and terminates in the City of Atlanta, with approximately 16 percent of the basin located within Sandy Springs. Only a short segment of the creek itself runs through Sandy Springs. However, nearly 3,800 acres of its basin and several tributaries are within city limits.

For new development, the City of Sandy Springs requires treatment of the first 1.2 inches of rainfall on the site to prevent soil erosion into the stream. To reduce flooding in the Nancy Creek Basin, a 2016 policy change required new development to infiltrate an additional 1.2 inches of rainfall, for a total of 2.4 inches. The additional requirement applies only to the portion of the Nancy Creek Basin west of High Point Road.

The proposed text amendment would create an exemption in the Declared Sensitive Area to allow for minor replacement work (500 square feet or less), which speaks to typical maintenance and routine repairs, rather than actual redevelopment or major land disturbance in the DSA. No changes would be made to other requirements of the Declared Sensitive Area, and the modification would apply only to the repair and replacement of existing impervious surfaces.