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SNELLVILLE – Regulations on short-term rentals in the city, like those used through companies like Airbnb, were adopted by Mayor and Council Monday.

While not an issue currently in Snellville, city officials were concerned with reports of illicit activity at short-term rental properties and decided to create regulations locally "to provide for the continued availability of quality transient lodging within the city and proper maintenance of short-term rentals," according to the new ordinance.

Short-term rentals are defined as dwellings rented out for 30 consecutive nights or less.

There is "evidence that there can be unsafe short-term rentals, that minimum life safety codes are not enforced and that unregulated commercial use of these structures can become havens for criminal activity affecting the quality of life in the surrounding communities," the ordinance reads.

Under the new ordinance, a separate business license is required for each short-term rental unit, except where an owner owns multiple short-term rentals in a residential community or multiple residential communities and applies for a business license for a single business license for such units.

Applications for a short-term rental business license must be filed with the city's Planning Department by the owner prior to use of the property as a short-term rental. All applications for a short-term rental business license must contain, among other requirements, the square footage and maximum occupant information, verification of code and safety requirements, parking space information, a hotel/motel occupancy tax registration certificate and an application fee payment.

The ordinance states occupancy is limited to two occupants per bedroom plus two additional residents. Aside from those occupants, six additional visitors are allowed. Sufficient parking for renters must be provided on paved parking spaces within the property, not on right-of-ways. Owners must have security cameras recording all entry ways to the dwelling and driveways.

Punishment for violating these conditions is a warning, followed by fines and eventual license revocation.

SNELLVILLE – When Mayor Pro Tem Dave Emanuel created the Snellville Clean & Proud program, he had three goals in mind - inspiring residents to adopt a road by picking up litter, making people aware of the problems litter creates and adding ways the neighbors can help each other in cases of code violations.

But more people need to know about the program to make the city cleaner, Emanuel said. That's why Snellville Clean & Proud is hosting a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.

The program has been successful – two official clean-up dates collected nearly 40 bags of litter on Oak Road and other groups have formed in Clean & Proud's image, including a recent clean-up effort by the South Gwinnett High School Softball team.

"The program has gotten off to a good start with several groups adopting roads and others in the process of selecting a road," he said. "I've also found that quite a few individuals regularly pick up litter. Some go out specifically for that purpose, others do it while out walking their dogs."

In addition to being unsightly, litter can also create blockages in stormwater systems and become harmful debris and pollution leaches into the soil or flows into lakes and streams. Litter can also form a breeding ground for mosquitoes and cause the injury or death of animals who ingest discarded objects or are cut by sharp objects.

"Litter is often thought of as harmless pieces of paper, but when you go out and clean up a road, you find a surprising variety of things," Emanuel said. "When we cleaned Oak Road, we found nuts, bolts, screws, nails, bottles, tires and some items that are better left unmentioned. Many of these items aren't merely unsightly, they're potential hazards."

Emanuel will speak about the Clean & Proud program. Gwinnett County Solicitor Brian Whiteside will be on hand to discuss the steps he's taking to prevent illegal dumping and catch people in the act. Snellville Police Chief Roy Whitehead will also be in attendance to explain the city's code enforcement policies and procedures and the options that are available to people who have been cited for violations.

The meeting is open to the public.

SNELLVILLE – Adult education classes took place Aug. 26 in Snellville City Hall's new education and business space, kicking off a new era of citizen engagement in the city.

Gwinnett Technical College is offering General Education Diploma classes in the newly remodeled space on the second floor of City Hall.

"As a Gwinnettian myself I feel this program is a powerful investment in the Snellville community," said Gwinnett Tech Adult Literacy Instructor Kevin Black. "Our goal is to help those students who would benefit from a high school equivalency gain the tools they need to succeed in a college or in a career. I tell students that earning a GED is a worthy goal but that it should never be the end goal."

Half of the second floor of Snellville City Hall was renovated this year to bolster local education and business opportunities. The Greater Eastside Chamber of Commerce has already secured office space and others are soon to sign on, according to Economic Development Manager Eric Van Otteren.

Those interested in registering for the Gwinnett Tech program can complete an application at www.gwinnetttech.edu/fm/registration/regform/.

Gwinnett Tech is continuing to offer classes during its next session which begins Oct. 14.

Gwinnett Tech is also offering GED classes at South Gwinnett High School.

SNELLVILLE – A student and his teacher will display their work at City Hall starting next week.

The art of David Raderstorf and Isaac Alcantar will be shown at the City Hall Art this month. There is a reception for the artists from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 12, also at City Hall.

"Art leaves a legacy for all to view, long after the artist has departed this earth," Raderstorf said. "Art is a window into the mind and soul of its maker. The impact is viewed and felt both the artist and the viewer."

Raderstorf said he took early retirement and chose to pursue his art.

"Most of my career was in upper management in the textiles field which required extensive travel around the world," Raderstorf said. "This provided me the opportunity to discover the designed and color of many diverse cultures. My work today reflects those observations with the use of vivid colors, textures and designs. My art is currently in private and international collections."

Raderstorf is a signature member of the Georgia Watercolor Society, artist in residence for the Georgia State National Fair, he has held more than 30 solo exhibitions, has been accepted in over 50 art exhibitions at various levels, is a past member of the Norcross public arts commission and the current resident of Kudzu Art Zone in Norcross.

Alcantar said Raderstorf has been instrumental in his art career.

"Art reflects my surroundings, culture, and thoughts," he said. "It is an adventure of discovery that takes me on a journey of exposure using color, texture and subject. Art allows me to express feeling, including one stimulated by living in a new culture."

In the past year, Alcantar applied to and was accepted into 20 juried exhibitions, including the Kudzu Open Exhibit and the Georgia Watercolor Society Member Exhibition. In February 2018 he was honored to receive an invitation from the Mexican Consulate to show a solo exhibition.

SNELLVILLE – On Saturday, Sept. 7, Eastside Medical Center will host "Crush the Crisis," an opioid take back event. Law enforcement officers from the Snellville Police Department will be on site to assist with the collection and disposal of unused medications from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2017, there were 1,014 overdose deaths involving opioids in Georgia—a rate of 9.7 deaths per 100,000 Georgians.

Volunteers will be collecting tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana). Needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.
Eastside Medical Center is participating as part of HCA Healthcare's first national "Crush the Crisis" opioid take back day. More than 65 HCA Healthcare facilities across 15 states are uniting to collect unused or expired opioids for one day.

"Opioid addiction is a growing crisis not only in Gwinnett County, but across our nation," said Dr. Stephen Higgins, Chief Medical Officer at Eastside Medical Center. "Our goal for 'Crush the Crisis' is to raise awareness of the dangers of opioid addiction and educate our community about the proper disposal of these medications. Opioid addiction can happen to anyone and we are providing this drop off opportunity confidentially and anonymously."

To further help combat the nation's opioid crisis, HCA Healthcare, the parent company of Eastside Medical Center, proudly partners with the National Academy of Medicine's Action Collaborative on Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic, consisting of more than 50 organizations that share best practices and identify gaps in the safe treatment of opioid addiction.

A learning health system, which uses data from approximately 31 million annual patient encounters to help continuously improve care, HCA Healthcare has been using the science of "big data" to reduce opioid misuse and transform pain management, with initiatives in surgical, emergency and other care settings, including:

Enhanced Surgical Recovery (ESR)/ALTernatives to Opioids in the Emergency Room (ALTO in the ER): HCA Healthcare focuses on a multi-modal approach to acute pain management. This means two or more methods or medications are used to reduce the need to use opioids to manage a patient's pain while recovering from surgery or in the emergency room. As of August 2019, ESR is live at 140 HCA Healthcare facilities, with the goal to implement in all facilities, in at least one major service line, by the end of 2019. ALTO protocols will be expanded enterprise-wide by the end of 2019.

Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances (EPCS): Physicians have access to aggregated electronic health records that make it more difficult for medication-seekers to doctor-shop or alter prescriptions. ECPS is available across HCA Healthcare.

"Crush the Crisis" will take place outside of Eastside Medical Center's Main Campus Emergency Department entrance at 1700 Medical Way in Snellville. For more information, visit
EastsideMedical.com or call 833.582.1970.

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Eastside Medical Center is a 310-bed, multi-campus medical center serving patients in Gwinnett and surrounding counties for more than 39 years. Nationally recognized for patient safety, Eastside's comprehensive medical and surgical programs include heart and vascular, neurosciences, cancer, orthopedics, rehabilitation, sleep medicine, women's services, spine and wellness center, wound care clinic, center for weight loss, behavioral health and 24-hour emergency care. Eastside Medical Group provides primary care for patients of all ages in several community office locations. The Eastside Medical Center main campus & ER is located at 1700 Medical Way in Snellville; the South Campus ER, Behavioral Health, and Inpatient Rehabilitation services are located at 2160 Fountain Drive in Snellville; the Loganville Digital Imaging Center is located at 3445 Georgia 81 in Loganville; and the Breast Imaging & Diagnostic Center is located at 1700 Tree Lane in Snellville. For more information, visit EastsideMedical.com.

So why is the new $85-million downtown development called "The Grove at Snellville Towne Center"?

Here's why.

Snellville has always had roots in commerce. The city's co-founders ran the Snell & Sawyer Store a hundred years ago and the plaza which currently houses Provino's was once a gathering spot for travelers to grab a bite to eat and trade wares. Travelers stopped at "The Grove" when rolling through Snellville. Many celebrations and family reunions were held in The Grove. Caravans came through once or twice a year to spend a few days. People would travel to Snellville for their shopping and park horses and wagons, later cars, in the area on Highway 78. Families and tradesmen traveling from other areas often stopped for the night to rest in there. The Grove was the center of the community and of trade and stores were built around it, cementing Snellville's trade-rich legacy.

As an homage to our commercial-rich past, Snellville's downtown was called "The Grove at Snellville Towne Center".

SNELLVILLE – Mayor Barbara Bender is proud to announce an agreement has been reached with a development team to build the first phase of the city's highly anticipated The Grove at Towne Center.

The project's $85 million first phase will commence construction in 2020 and begin to deliver in 2021. The project will include multiple private and public buildings to be developed through a public-private partnership.

The project will be led by CASTO, one of the country's leading commercial real estate companies, along with Atlanta based development partner MidCity Real Estate Partners, in a joint venture with the City of Snellville. The Grove at Towne Center, will be a large scale, mixed-use town center property, comprising 18 total acres between Oak Road, North Road, Clower Street and both sides of Wisteria Drive, in downtown Snellville. The Grove at Towne Center's first phase will include over 50,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, office and entertainment space, and approximately 250 multi-family luxury apartments. In addition, the new Elizabeth Williams Library will be constructed and include a second-floor community/incubator/education space.

The city and Gwinnett County previously entered into an intergovernmental agreement to build the library and parking for library patrons.

The Grove at Towne Center will be a walkable, destination space that will feature inviting restaurants, entertainment and retail spaces that will serve as key amenities for office users, residents and visitors. Shared use paths for pedestrians and cyclists will be located throughout the development, connecting the various components of the master planned project and the surrounding neighborhoods via the Snellville Greenway.

"This project is a major piece in our goal to create great places to live, play, work, learn and shop in Snellville," said Mayor Barbara Bender. "The Grove at Towne Center's design and its connections to existing parks via greenways and neighborhoods will be a wonderful place where community and commerce meet."

The Market Center building will be a unique anchor of the project. CASTO and MidCity are working with the city to customize the overall design and uses within the building. Early ideas include a brew pub on the first floor and upscale event space on the second floor. The Grove Apartments will provide residents upscale urban living in the heart of The Grove with designer finishes and will include amenities such as a state-of-the-art fitness center, pool, grilling area, parking deck and business center. The Commons area will allow the city to host many of the community's wonderful festivals and activities in one centrally located space.

"Our goal is to create a very unique shopping, entertainment and living experience with something for every age group to enjoy," stated Shannon Dixon, EVP of Southeast Development for CASTO. "Mayor Bender and the city staff have been incredible to work with, as we have collaborated on a unique deal structure that will provide the city one of the most well-positioned master plans in terms of visibility, accessibility and proximity to on-site and nearby amenities."

The first phase of construction of The Grove at Towne Center project will include relocation of the city's U.S. Post Office, expected to occur in early 2020 with a groundbreaking on the project anticipated for the summer of 2020.

"We are looking forward to our partnership with the city and county to deliver The Grove at Towne Center," said Kirk Demetrops, president of MidCity. "These types of projects have a tremendous impact on the quality of life and provide a real sense of community. We believe The Grove will be a destination point for the city for decades to come."

For more information and updates on the Grove at Towne Center project visit www.snellville.org/the-towne-center-snellville.

SNELLVILLE - There will be an election for City Council Nov. 5 after six candidates qualified for two seats.

Mayor Barbara Bender was not challenged.

Those who qualified are:
(I) Denotes incumbent
Mayor
Barbara Bender (I)
No opponent
Post 1
Dave Emanuel (I)
Cortez Riden
Post 2
Wanda Blow
Solange Destang
Brittany Marmol
Thomas S. Mwambay
(Incumbent Roger Marmol did not seek re-election.)

SNELLVILLE – City officials are still looking for residents' input on what they'd like to see at T.W. Briscoe Park following the first of two meetings regarding the park's Master Plan update.

More than two dozen attendees of the first meeting Aug. 15 had an opportunity to pick five items or improvements they'd like to see at the park – a gymnasium, hiking trails, splash pad and indoor meeting rooms were the top picks. The forums are designed to identify the needs of the community as part of Phase III of the park's Master Plan update.

The second public hearing will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 19 at City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.

"This information will be noted and the comments made on the three possible (community building) design layouts will also be noted," said Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Platt. "We will probably make a few adjustments based on this meeting feedback and put it out to those that come to the September meeting to get even more feedback. Once we get feedback from the September meeting we will buckle down and try to get a more specific building design and items that are of high priority onto an actual design board showing all of the park and possible new additions."

After the designs and specific items are determined, the Park Advisory Board then the Mayor and Council must approve the proposals and then funding sources must be determined.

"We want residents to come to the Sept. 19 meeting and let us know what they see at the park," Platt said. "We depend on residents' input to make these changes. If you'd like to see something at the park, please attend the meeting and let us know."

REQUEST FOR SEALED BID - RESURFACING & PAVING FOR FY 2019-2020 PW190807P

August 7, 2019

The City of Snellville is soliciting competitive bids from qualified vendors for the resurfacing and paving of City Roads for FY 2019-2020.

For more information please visit our bid page.