Author: Gwinnett County Homes

The Board of Commissioners has had a busy start to the new year. As the new year kicked off, so did new changes. Here’s what you need to know in this week’s roundup:
Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson appointed to tourism board
Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson will continue to help shape the experience of people who want to visit or live in Gwinnett. She was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The position is non-paying and oversees Explore Gwinnett Tourism and Film as well as the Gas South District — the 118-acre campus is the hub for entertainment, arts, conventions, and other celebrations in Gwinnett.
Commissioner Kirkland Carden hosts town halls
In a town hall held earlier this week, District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden introduced recently elected Commissioner Matthew Holtkamp to some of his former constituents. When the new commission district lines went into effect January 1, a part of District 1 became District 4.
Meanwhile, Carden will meet with Duluth’s oldest Black community in another town hall tonight from 6:00pm until 8:00pm. The Hill’s Community will receive American Rescue Plan Act funds to begin the process of changing its septic system into a sewer system. That meeting will be held at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Duluth.
Commissioner Ben Ku appointed vice chair for 2023
Newly re-elected District 2 Commissioner Ben Ku also has a new title — vice chair. Members of the board unanimously voted to name Ku commission vice chair for 2023. In this one-year role, he will preside over meetings when Chairwoman Hendrickson.    
Commissioner Jasper Watkins joins View Point Health board
He spearheaded the movement to create a streamlined process for veterans in Gwinnett and across Metro Atlanta. As a retired Lt. Col. in the army, Commissioner Jasper Watkins said it was a dream come true when the Veterans and Family Services office opened in Gwinnett late last year. Now, he wants to continue helping those in need.
Watkins is the newest member of the View Point Health Board of Directors. View Point Health is a community behavioral health center. Gwinnett Police partnered with View Point for its co-responder unit. The Police Mental Health Collaboration program pairs a trained officer with a clinical psychologist to answer calls when a person may be experiencing a mental health crisis.
Commissioner Matthew Holtkamp begins term
Residents will notice a new face on the board. Commissioner Matthew Holtkamp began his four-year term representing District 4 on January 1. District 4 includes Buford, Sugar Hill, Braselton, Rest Haven, Auburn, and parts of Suwanee and Lawrenceville.

Since 2001, Gwinnett County Transit has been an essential service for residents in Gwinnett’s thriving community.
Nearly 22 years later, the County unveiled a new name and a new brand for its transit system — Ride Gwinnett.
Embodying the County’s vibrant brand, Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson said Ride Gwinnett represents how the County will connect people to where they need to go.
“Ride Gwinnett was established with the goal of making our public transit system an attractive and everyday choice for residents and visitors,” said Hendrickson. “This is an exciting day and the excitement will continue in the coming months with the expansion of new routes included in the recently approved 2023 budget.”
During the unveiling, Gwinnett Department of Transportation Director Lewis Cooksey and the crowd counted down and chanted, “Move that bus!” to reveal Ride Gwinnett’s new branding.
“It has been over twenty years since Gwinnett’s transit system began, so a new brand and name that reflects how our focus on mobility has evolved is fitting,” Cooksey said. “To go along with our new look, we will also have new changes to service soon, so it is an exciting time for transit in Gwinnett.”
The rebranding includes the County’s transit website, buses, bus stop shelters, and signs.
Ride Gwinnett has seven local routes, five commuter routes, complimentary paratransit for local routes, three Park and Ride locations, and one transit center.
To explore current bus routes and schedule, fare prices, and more, visit RideGwinnett.com.

Gwinnett County Corrections will host a career fair on Saturday, January 21 from 8:00am to 3:00pm. Correctional officer and senior correctional officer positions are available.
Interested applicants will take part in a facility tour, background check, behavioral assessment, and interview. To fully participate in the career fair, attendees must apply online before Wednesday, January 18. Additional instructions will be emailed to candidates following completion of the application.
The career fair will take place at the Comprehensive Correctional Complex, located at 750 Hi Hope Road in Lawrenceville. The Comprehensive Correctional Complex is a secure facility and personal items — including cell phones — are not allowed inside. As a COVID-19 precaution, attendees are required to wear a mask in the facility.
Gwinnett offers benefits, paid training, educational incentives, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement.
For more information about the career fair, contact Lt. S. Williams at Shawntez.Williams@GwinnettCounty.com or 678.407.6010.

Let us know which transportation projects you would like to see in District 3 on Saturday, January 14 from 10:00am to 11:30am at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville.
The Transportation Citizens Project Selection Committee will gather your feedback, which will be used to identify transportation projects for the 2023 Special Purpose Local Option Tax program, known as SPLOST. Committee members will also share information about upcoming projects in the district like new sidewalks and road improvements.
Email District 3 appointees Katrina.Fellows@GwinnettCounty.com and Yolanda.Thornton@GwinnettCounty.com for more information.
District 3 encompasses Dacula, Grayson, Loganville, Snellville, and parts of Lawrenceville.
The Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center is located at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.

The Board of Commissioners recently adopted an amendment to the Gwinnett 2040 Unified Plan, which was originally adopted in 2019 and outlines community goals, needs and opportunities, housing, transportation, economic development, and future land use.
The new amendment — adopted September 27, 2022 — replaces portions of the Future Development Map section of the plan. This amendment includes minor modifications to existing character areas, the creation of an additional character area, and adjustments to the Future Development Map. It also includes a more detailed list of development types, including recommended residential density ranges and zoning districts for each character area.
Prior to the amendment, the County was divided into 11 character areas to guide future development. Character area planning determines recommended future land use types based on an area’s existing and planned community character. With this amendment, the Community Node Character Area was added to bring the total number of character areas in the county to 12. This new character area is intended for areas located at major intersections throughout the county, outside of the County’s major Regional Activity Centers. These areas are recommended to accommodate future development that is mixed use and pedestrian oriented.
Since the 2040 Unified Plan’s adoption in 2019, our community has experienced significant changes in the demand for new development and for different development types. This amendment serves as an interim update to the plan as the County prepares for the next major update, which will become the 2045 Unified Plan. Community engagement for the 2045 Unified Plan will begin early next year and continue into 2024.
 
Read the complete Gwinnett 2040 Unified Plan Amendment.

As of Wednesday, January 4, 2023, the city of Atlanta will be resurfacing streets in the government district of downtown Atlanta. Some commuter bus stops serviced by Gwinnett County Transit may be impacted.
Thursday, January 5 and Friday, January 6:

Central Avenue SW (from Memorial Drive to Mitchell Street SW)

Stop ID 24 and 520 may be impacted.
The road will be open, but two lanes will be closed.

Trinity Avenue SW (from Memorial Drive to Washington Street SW/Central Avenue SW)

The road will be open, but two lanes will be closed.

 
Saturday, January 14 and Sunday, January 15:

Mitchell Street SW

Stop ID 24 and 520 may be impacted.
The road will be open, but two lanes will be closed.

After coordinating with the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center has suspended dog adoptions and extended the suspension of dog intakes until January 19 as a proactive measure against a canine viral infection.
Pet owners will still be able to reclaim any lost pets, including dogs, during business hours. Cat adoptions are still available during this time, and the center will still intake cats and injured dogs. 
Search through the pets at the shelter, and learn more about pet adoption from the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center.

Join Gwinnett Transportation at the Pinckneyville Community Recreation Center on Saturday, January 28 for Construction Conversations, a free open forum about construction projects in Gwinnett.
From noon to 4:00pm, residents are invited to learn about the research, design, development, and maintenance of County roads. Staff from the department will also be available to answer questions.
Lunch and lemonade will be provided, but space is limited. Register at GwinnettCounty.com/DOTForum.
The Pinckneyville Community Recreation Center is located at 4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Berkely Lake.

Fire Station 13 crews moved into their new home at 105 Main Street in Suwanee in December. The new, 10,788-square-foot station provides three drive-thru apparatus bays and room for 24-hour staffing for an engine and a medic unit.
The $7.8 million project was funded by the 2017 Spe­cial Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program, known as SPLOST, with land provided by the city of Suwanee. Fire Station 13 serves more than 29,000 residents and local businesses across 25 square miles.