City of East Point
Spring Edition Issue #3
The Planning Post
PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
GROWING TOGETHER: SPRINGING INTO ACTION
Success Story
Community Driven Change to Reach Our Goals
Inside:
A look at how your feedback has helped us identify opportunities to innovatively push our department forward.
Community Updates Enhancing the Digital Experience
This quarter, we are focusing on moving from the planning phase into execution and implementation. The feedback we’ve received has reinforced the heart of the work we do - the customer. With a community-driven approach to enhancing our service delivery model and resources, our projects and operations are evolving to better prioritize the entire East Point community. From increased training of staff to re-imagining an entire zoning ordinance, our Planning & Community Development team came into 2026 ready to do the work!
What we’ve come to realize is that the customer’s journey is not linear and it has no designated starting point. With this perspective, we have begun to fine tune our digital experience to complement our in-person service delivery. Working closely with our IT professionals, we are reimagining how we can maximize our PCD presence from the comfort of your own screen.
After deploying a design thinking methodology to truly meet our customers where they are, we are now: Updating our webpages to reflect the true nature of our work Optimizing current workflows to reduce confusion Increasing transparency of processes Exploring new, innovative technology to remain on trend with local municipalities Creating ADA compliant assets
WWW.EASTPOINTGA.GOV
Post-It On Your Radar
Tree Removal Assistance Program
Available Downtown Properties
Need a tree removed from your property? Below are the qualifications for the Tree Removal Assistance program: MUST have a dead, dying, or hazardous tree MUST be a homestead exempted property owner MUST provide the tree removal estimate & proposal MUST be located within grant match map area MUST have municipal tree removal permit BEFORE applying MUST agree to replant tree(s) on the property
We need your business to help East Point grow into an even more robust, offering residents and visitors options. And, we have the space! So, are you ready to open your first store front or expand into your second location? It’s time to consider East Point! Along with the unique properties available, there are a variety of small business incentives available for businesses with 9 or fewer employees. When you’re ready to take that next step, you can:
MUST have trees evaluated by a Tree Risk Assessment Qualified ISA Certified Arborist
CHECK OUT PROPERTIES
CONTACT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
To learn more about the program and check if you qualify, visit the Georgia Arborist Association website HERE.
Downtown Business Recovery Grant
Upcoming Transportation Projects
Is your business located downtown and it has been negatively impacted by the construction? If so East Point’s Downtown Development Authority has an opportunity for YOU! The Downtown Business Recovery Grant is now open to assist! To qualify, you need to: Have a business in downtown Have been in business since January 2024 Can prove that you were negatively impacted financially Plan to remain in operation for at least one year Be able to show the difference in sales from 2024 to 2025 Be in good standing with the city regarding taxes, fees, code violations, and unpaid fines
Have you been curious about what’s happening on Main Street? Or you simply want to be ahead of upcoming transportation projects to plan your drive better? Our wonderful Public Works Department has made it easy for residents to stay in the know. They’ve compiled a list of all their upcoming transportation projects for 2026. They even include the status of projects that have concluded.
CHECK OUT UPCOMING PROJECTS
Ready to apply? Complete the application HERE!
Deadline: April 10, 2026
We’ve Updated Our Resume
Permits Division
Zoning Division
Planning & Community Development City of East Point HIGHLIGHTS
With all the newness we are implementing, it’s important we pour into the people that make it happen. See how our team has been developing.
EXPERIENCE
ZONING
PERMITS
Britney Gatewood New: Senior Planner Previous: Associate Planner
Devin Peurifoy Successfully obtained her Permit Technician certification . New: Permit Technician Previous: Permit Coordinator
ADMINISTRATIVE
Brianna Roy
Dianna Reid
Successfully passed her Permit Technician certification .
Obtained her Certified Administrative Assistant certification and is now a Notary Public .
GROWING TOGETHER: SPRINGING INTO ACTION | ISSUE #3
OUR WORK IN NUMBERS
When the numbers speak for themselves, the work behind them becomes easier to tell. This past quarter, we kept pace through business license renewal season, tight developer timelines, and the holidays. No matter the obstacle, our team delivered results every step of the way. See how we did below.
2,364
$640,778,088
Number reflects data from July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. PERMITS ISSUED
PERMIT CONSTRUCTION VALUE
Number reflects data from July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.
$19,670
1946
Number reflects data from July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. PZE FEES
Number reflects data from July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. PLAN REVIEWS
$1,169,963
92
Number reflects data from July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. ZONING APPLICATIONS
BUSINESS LICENSE REVENUE
Number reflects data from July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.
$3,766,684 Number reflects data from July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026. TOTAL PERMIT FEES
$4,956,317
TOTAL REVENUE
Number reflects data from July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026.
The beginning of this year kicked off with business license renewal season, but we we’ve been busy since 2025! See how we’ve done so far in our business license division. Blooming Businesses Start Here!
THE DATA
New Licenses 2026
2026 License Renewals
FY’26 Total Revenue
Certificates of Completion
$858K+
26
540
14
COs - Residential 2026
Issued Licenses FY’26
COs - Commercial 2026
Total Fees 2026 $647K+
5
20
818
Major Projects
RENOVATIONS Big Nick’s Renovation | 2665 E. Point St. Under renovation! Chick-Fil-A Renovation | 1065 Cleveland Ave. Back open for business! Chick-Fil-A Renovation | 3410 Camp Creek Pkwy. Issued renovation permit!
NEW DEVELOPMENTS Wagon Works Affordable Housing| 1514 E. Cleveland Ave. Issued Certificate of Occupancy! 55 Project | 2855 East Point St. Land disturbance permit approved and demolition permits issued.
UPCOMING DEVELOPMENTS Office Space | 4200 Southmeadow Pkwy. 10 Unit Multi-Family Development | 2676 Martin St.
Don’t want to miss out on all the excitement around FIFA? Reach out to our Economic Development team to learn how your business can be included!
Ready for FIFA fun?
Contact Economic Development
Giving an Inside Look into the Process
Plan reviews are an important part of the permit process. A plan review is required to ensure any projects that come into the City of East Point abide by life safety standards and building codes. It also creates an opportunity for collaboration amongst other departments and ensures the project also adheres to their ordinance and codes.
We’ve heard some murmurs about our process so we decided it’s time to give residents a better view. Our plan review dashboards highlights the impact of this process and the people making it happen.
1,623
318
513
TOTAL REVIEWS
LATE REVIEWS
TOTAL PERMITS
This is the total amount of plan reviews completed during FY’26.
This is the total amount of plan reviews completed after their due date.
This is the total amount of permits that required a plan review.
WE HAVE SEGMENTED THE DATA INTO QUARTERS SO YOU CAN SEE OUR PROGRESS.
WE ABSOLUTELY COULDN’T DO THIS WORK ALL BY OURSELVES SO WE WANTED TO SHOW THE IMPACT OF OUR VITAL COLLABORATORS.
WE UPDATE THIS INFORMATION MONTHLY!
BUILDING A BETTER FRAMEWORK: MODERNIZING OUR ZONING ORDINANCE FOR TODAY—AND TOMORROW
At a high level, urban planning defines what a community wants to become while zoning determines how that vision is implemented on the ground. In the City of East Point, our Comprehensive Plan serves as the guidepost for understanding where the community is going. In combination with zoning, the vision detailed in the Comprehensive Plan becomes enforceable. Now with our zoning ordinance rewrite underway, we are positioning East Point to reach its next point. When the planning goals outlined in the Comprehensive Plan are not aligned with the zoning ordinance, friction happens. On the ground, this friction shows up as projects that don’t align with what residents want, unnecessary staff workarounds, and frustrated stakeholders. Friction also presents itself through outdated zoning codes that complicate the implementation and execution of the City’s vision. Updating the zoning ordinance then becomes an opportunity to bridge the gap between policy and regulation.
EXPLORE THE PROJECT TIMELINE GUIDING US TO AN UPGRADED ZONING ORDINANCE
The truth is, the zoning ordinance was never created to be a static document. It was always meant to evolve with the evolution of design standards and development regulations. East Point’s ordinance is no different and this isn’t our first time going through this process. The difference this time around is that we are being even more diligent to be innovative in our approach, inclusive in our process, and transparent with our progress.
GET TO KNOW THE FACES BEHIND THIS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH CITY WIDE IMPACT
A zoning ordinance rewrite is a massive undertaking by any city. That is why we made sure we put out a RFP (Request for Proposals) to find the best organization to work alongside us for this project. After reviewing all applications, Inspire Placemaking Collective was chosen as the vendor to assist Planning & Community Development with executing this rewrite. With end deliverables outlined and agreed to, introductory meetings amongst the project team had, and work beginning, it’s time we formally introduce East Point to Inspire Placemaking Collective.
With roots going back to 1999, Inspire Placemaking Collective has an extensive portfolio of offering cities a thoughtful suite of services that help communities thrive. What they’ve offered our team has echoed this sentiment. Meet the members of the Inspire project team helping us make things happen. MEET OUR DEDICATED TEAM: APRIL NEWSLETTER FEATURE
PRIMARY POINTS OF CONTACT Nakeischea Loi Smith, AICP - Project manager ensuring project plan is being adhered to and deliverables are being completed on time. Elena Oertel, AICP - Deputy project manager supporting Nakeischea while providing a planning background to work. Alex Kozela - Community engagement coordinator responsible for the planning and execution of all public facing engagement i.e. public kick off meeting, public draft workshops, etc.
OUR WORK STARTS AND ENDS WITH YOU Nothing can truly happen without the community’s involvement. And, we genuinely want all of East Point involved in this process. While our Planning and Community Development team have our own notes we are enthusiastic to share, we want to make sure we capture yours! Inspire created a designated website to promote inclusion by ensuring all community member can both understand and engage in the zoning ordinance rewrite. This website allows all stakeholders to: See project progress in real time Provide feedback on areas across East Point they would like change implemented Complete a brief survey to provide us with general feedback on the current ordinance
Click the flyer below to access our project website!
We’ve Updated our Phone Numbers Recently, we updated our phone numbers. We want to make sure you are able to contact us when you need to. Check out our updated directory and make sure you lock-in our numbers!
We were not joking when we said we are committed to enhancing our customer’s digital experience! The accessibility features added to our directory is a small change that we hope goes a long way.
Easy Access! Click the buttons to easily access contacts relevant for that specific department. Real time Updates This is updated as soon as something changes in our department so it’s always accurate.
What You Need To Know Quick glance at our hours of operations for our department & inspectors.
Summer Series Part 2 Last summer, we launched our summer community enagement series called City Circles. Led by representatives from our permits, zoning, and business license divisons, we provided education around our processes and applications. Now, we are ready to take things up a notch, but first we want to know what you would like to see from us. Complete the brief form below letting us know how you’d like us to engage you this summer!
Summer Series Feedback Survey
A Note from the Director
Stepping into spring, we are reminded that growth takes intention, collaboration, and action. As we continue growing together, our team is focused on making tangible progress that supports our residents, businesses, and the future of our city. From advancing key initiatives to improving how we connect with residents, our focus remains on creating a city that grows thoughtfully and sustainably. Every step forward reflects our dedication to transparency, collaboration, and service.
Thank you for staying engaged with us. The work ahead is exciting, and we’re proud to move forward—together.
Kimberly Smith, PCD Director
PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
EASTPOINTGA.GOV
943.200.2029
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