Roswell City Council Election 2007

publication date: Sep 14, 2007

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author/source: Roswell Beacon

Two City Council incumbents chose not to seek reelection in Roswell, so voters have a rare opportunity to re-shape the panel.

Post 1 drew two high-profile candidates: developer Rich Dippolito, who serves on the Planning Commission, and attorney Steve Dorvee, who served two terms on the Council in the 1990’s.

Post 2 has four candidates, none of whom are household names, and they have interestingly varying takes on what the city needs and how to provide it.

Incumbent David Tolleson is unopposed in Post 3.

Here are the candidates’ answers to questions posed by the Beacon. Some responses were edited for length, clarity or fairness.

The package was compiled by Jonathan Copsey and edited by Paul Kaplan.

Questions:

1.    What would you do about the Ga. 400/Holcomb Bridge Road interchange?
2.    When voting on projects, would you prioritize business interests or neighborhoods?
3.    What is the most pressing issue in your town?
4.    Why should voters pick you?
5.    What will be your top priority if elected?
 
POST 1:
Richard Dippolito

1. The City of Roswell has been telling its citizens for years that fixing this interchange is a regional issue. I look forward to working with the City Council and the various state agencies in a collaborative effort. It is crucial for the city to take the lead in finding a solution. I support the funding of the required studies and engineering. In addition, I intend to pursue assistance from the state.

2. The City Council is elected to serve the citizens of Roswell who, in my experience, are smart, open to dialogue, very good at making their voices heard and astute enough to recognize the need for a thriving business community.

3. Future development. Much of the recent discussion has centered on the Roswell East proposal. In my opinion, a project like this is too tall and too dense, and would overpower the neighborhood next to it as well as the city at large. Roswell should not look like Manhattan. Roswell prides itself on its historic and residential character. I support developments that respect that character and complement our quality of life.

4. Because I bring a unique set of skills and experience to the City Council. As a Planning Commission member, I have been involved in zoning and planning issues in the city over the past few years. As an architect and real estate developer, I have over 25 years of experience in designing and developing real estate. This experience will be extremely valuable in evaluating development proposals that come before the city.

5. As Roswell approaches build-out, the redevelopment and revitalization of existing properties becomes increasingly important. One of our best opportunities for redevelopment is in midtown Roswell -- the Highway 9 corridor between Norcross Street and Holcomb Bridge Road. Land owners and developers will be encouraged to invest in projects along the corridor as the city takes the lead in re-energizing the area. I will support efforts to make this project a priority.
 
Steven Dorvee

1. I will fix it – soon. Whether or not any development occurs near the interchange, it needs to be fixed. In order to do so, the city needs to locate funds so that it can seek state and federal matching dollars. For the city’s share, whatever that may ultimately be, we will either need to have a bond referendum or use a creative approach, such as a tax allocation district. Whatever we do, we need to get moving.

2. This is easy. Roswell is a family community and its neighborhoods come first. Your question assumes, however, that business interests and neighborhood interests are at odds. History has shown that this is often not the case. For example, the Parkway Village District was developed through a dialogue between homeowners and businessmen, and it has worked very well. So, while neighborhood interests come first, unlike some, I will not ignore the business community. Doing so merely causes our commercial areas to deteriorate.

3. On a broad scale, it’s revitalizing Roswell’s run-down commercial areas and apartments. The city needs to work hard to reverse the blight certain areas are facing. The most pressing specific issue is what will become of the “Roswell East” land? If the community works together, not in closed meetings but in a transparent process, we can come up with a solution which will benefit everyone concerned. I would like to see a development of top quality that is less dense than anything that has been proposed, and with shorter buildings.

4. I have shown a proven ability to get results. I saved a million dollars per year in sanitation fees by redoing the operation of the Sanitation Department, and brought curbside recycling to Roswell. I founded the office of Economic Redevelopment, and our redevelopment efforts rejuvenated the historic district, caused tens of millions of dollars of reinvestment in the Holcomb Bridge/Alpharetta Highway area, and helped make the Parkway Village district on Highway 92 a reality. I have shown an ability to build consensus in the community and on the Council.

5. My top goal is to revitalize Roswell’s downtrodden and deteriorating commercial areas and apartment complexes. When I first served on the Council, its historic district was failing. We worked hard and our historic district became a jewel. Now, eight years later, some people are complaining that the district is deteriorating again and that the city is not helping. East Roswell has seen trees mowed down for new big box shopping centers, while older centers are deteriorating. Several apartment complexes are becoming a problem. The city needs to develop a meaningful revitalization strategy to combat these problems. We need action.
 
POST 2:
Phil Barnet

1. I would move to partner with the appropriate jurisdictions to improve the flow across the bridge. Roswell will never control the flow along Ga. 400, but we can work with GDOT and the USDOT. Creation of tax allocation districts can help Roswell raise funds to assist in the cost, but we would still need approval from GDOT. So, my first move would be to get on my knees and beg GDOT to move the bridge improvements to the top of their list. I would also approach Rep. Tom Price and Sen. Johnny Isakson for federal assistance.

2. Both must be measured equally. I live right next to commercial development in the Parkway Village District. Through good planning, the needs of both can be met. The Parkway Village District is a prime example. We have a corridor of commercial, office and residential that has high-end residential abutting. Both peacefully coexist. It is probably the best zoning Roswell has ever produced.

3. I am convinced that the failure of the annexation of the Newtown area [now part of Johns Creek] set the stage for the economic issues that will face Roswell for years to come. We are within three years of substantially higher taxes or substantially reduced services. A cure will come in the form of redevelopment with higher densities. Does this mean quarter-acre lots? No! Does this mean that we need to look at replacing run-down apartments with condominiums and other forms of development? Absolutely!

4. Hopefully my first three answers will tell the voter that I want to bring a common sense approach back to Roswell. I have lived here for over 40 years. I have lived the changes in Roswell. Neither of my opponents can say that. I feel that we are a city adrift. Our leaders want to fight among themselves for power while many of our subdivisions are becoming blighted and more commercial areas sit empty. Common sense must be returned to City Hall.

5. My first priority would be to sit down with the city administrator and the department heads to learn what their recommendations are to make Roswell even better. They are the professionals. We hire very qualified people who know much more than I or anyone else on Council about the workings of a municipality. It is time to take the operations out of the Council's hands and return it to the people we pay to do the job.
 
James Hargreaves

1. Solving the problem of a particular intersection does not solve Roswell’s overall transportation problem. If cars could zip through the Ga. 400/Holcomb Bridge intersection at 60 mph, where would they go? If you don’t also solve the problem of congestion on the connecting streets, solving the problem of a particular intersection is a waste of money. This lack of vision is typical of the kind of muddled and confused approach the city now has under the current mayor and council.

2. The citizens should determine what kind of community they want. Neighborhoods play a crucial role in determining that. Businesses should serve a secondary – but important – role. They are a source of needed products and services, tax revenue, economic growth, and expertise. Businesses can be used to help build the kind of community its citizens want. To do this, businesses need clear, realistic, and timely direction from the city. That is the job of the mayor and Council. That is also where we have had a complete lack of leadership and clarity.

3. Roswell needs to be committed to improving – not just maintaining – our quality of life. Specifically, that means for the same service levels, Roswell citizens have the right to expect an annual 3 to 5 percent reduction in their taxes, not the higher taxes we now have with lower service levels. In addition, new services need to serve the entire community, not just special interest groups.

4. There is no one currently running for or currently serving on Council (including the mayor) who have my professional cost accounting, audit, business systems, and technology training, and business experience. I have worked in and with Fortune 500 corporations for decades to trouble shoot problems and develop practical solutions using technology and quality business methods. The city is currently a ship adrift without a clear destination (development plan) and with a slow leak (aging infrastructure). Let me help plug the leak.

5. Roswell’s government has drifted away from serving the needs of all of the people. My highest priority is to eliminate Roswell’s culture of secrecy and privilege for insiders. Information about day to day operations should not be a privilege for the few, but a right of all citizens. The best way to insure that government is efficient and serves the people’s needs is to give the citizens as much detailed information about the plans, policies, process, and day to day operations of city business as is possible.
 
Bruce Peoples

1. I will pursue several avenues that, when done in tandem, will improve the interchange area and Roswell as a whole:
  A. Find a way to redevelop both the northwest and southeast quadrants. Unless new zoning is developed, that will not happen.
  B. Create a tax allocation district to collect the revenues that will be created as the areas are developed. Revenues from the TAD will help fund transportation and infrastructure improvements.
  C. Put together a transportation plan that includes fixing the intersection itself and adding another bridge north of Holcomb Bridge Road and south of Mansell that ties into the back of the Kimberly-Clark property. These improvements will be partly funded by the state, and the rest by a city bond offering.
  D. MARTA can no longer ignore North Fulton. I will lobby to get the North line extended all the way to North Point Mall.

2. Votes do not come down to “business or neighborhood.” It is not a zero sum game. As a business professional, I will work to erase the city's reputation of being business un-friendly; as a neighbor, I will continue to represent the interests of the typical Roswell household.

3. Redevelopment and transportation – they are linked, as I have shown above.

4. After talking to lots of stakeholders – business leaders, homeowners, neighborhood leaders – I have developed a plan to move forward. I will bring a fresh perspective to the position. I am connected and in touch with diverse members of the community. I am easy to work with. I will represent all of Roswell, and I am prepared to tackle the bigger issues that have been simmering for too long.

5. Redevelopment and transportation.

Becky Wynn

1. The question should be, "What will you do about easing traffic congestion while finding a solution to the Holcomb Bridge interchange?" In order to manage the increase in traffic, I will press for the implementation of the Roswell Master Transportation Plan, while working with neighboring cities to address congestion through regional solutions. Short term solutions outlined in the Master Plan are crucial. For example, the proposed North Bridge from Old Alabama across Ga. 400 could provide an alternative to the Ga. 400/Holcomb Bridge/Old Alabama intersections and could serve as a tool to revitalize the Northwest Quadrant.

2. I will listen to all the citizens of Roswell and determine whether a project has merit, and what effect it will have on the quality of life for all of our taxpayers. I will balance the interests of the business community with those of the homeowners. It does not have to be an either/or situation.

3. The issues facing Roswell are interrelated and must be addressed in concert. Revitalization, traffic and code enforcement are some of the major issues. I will work to promote revitalization of key Roswell areas, and support a clearly defined plan to guide mixed-use development and other initiatives. I believe that effective code enforcement is essential for a well-maintained city, and it must be implemented with a citizen-friendly, common-sense approach.

4. Roswell needs leaders who have the experience, understanding and background necessary to move our city forward. However, as a proud and historic city, Roswell also must preserve its character. I have the skills, experience, and dedication to guide Roswell as it meets those challenges.

5. Keeping our city vibrant and dynamic by bringing strong, community-focused leadership and experience to the City Council. I will work with community leaders and other elected officials to find reasonable common-sense solutions. I will be available to the citizens of Roswell so I can be responsive to their needs.
 
POST 3:
David Tolleson (i)

1. I have already voted to request that the Georgia Department of Transportation make this one of their highest priority projects. Also, I support moving forward with engineering and right-of-way identification both for the intersection and for related projects like the north bridge. It’s important to acquire right-of-way while land is available.

2. Projects such as Centennial Walk, East Village, Sweet Apple Village and the Highway 9 Overlay (currently under development), prove that good developers who are willing to listen to the concerns of citizens can develop profitable projects that are welcomed by the community. However, when developers propose unacceptable densities in areas with overburdened infrastructure, I will always vote to protect our neighborhoods.

3. How will Roswell redevelop? Some would like no changes. Others have touted a high density/high rise solution. I believe the best road is one that allows for redevelopment in keeping with the character of Roswell.

4. I have eight years of experience in dealing with the issues facing Roswell. I have worked hard to approach problems in a reasonable manner by truly listening to the concerns and requests of my constituents.

5. I would like to implement our Transportation Master Plan and move forward with strategic redevelopment in areas such as Highway 9.