Beltline, Georgia Department of Transportation and Amtrak officials have until tomorrow afternoon to update the U.S. Surface Transportation Board about the fate of the Decatur Belt, a strip of abandoned rail in Northeast Atlanta which all sides say they need to control for very different rail projects. (Here are some maps of the project and area in question.)

Late last week, residents of several at-risk neighborhood organizations — including Poncey-Highland, Inman Park and Old Fourth Ward — asked Amtrak and GDOT to scrap their plans for commuter or intercity rail running along the Decatur Belt. (Click here to read their Word Document press release.) While all the agencies promised to work together to try and resolve the issue, they're keeping mum on how things have progressed. On Tuesday, Mayor Shirley Franklin told U.S. Congressman John Lewis the sides are still negotiating. Nonetheless, keep checking back for updates about the story.

In other Beltline news, some areas of the 22-mile loop of parks, trails and transit that would require rezoning are scheduled to be discussed — and possibly voted on — by the Atlanta City Council's Community Development and Human Resources Committee on Monday, March 9 at 6 p.m.. Included are project areas near Old Fourth Ward, Grant Park, Northwest Atlanta, and others.

A full list of the areas follows after the jump. If you want to get involved, stop by City Hall or contact your councilmember.

To download the agenda, click here. I've also pasted it below.

PUBLIC NOTICE

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

MARCH 09, 2009

6:00 P.M.

The Community Development/Human Resources Committee of the Atlanta City Council will hold its first quarter Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) Amendments Public Hearing on Monday, March 09, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, 2nd floor, City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue, SW on the following proposed amendments:

TO AMEND THE LAND USE ELEMENT SO AS TO RE-DESIGNATE PROPERTY OR PROPERTIES AT:

1. 1463 La France, from the “Low Density Residential” Land Use Designation to the “Medium Density Residential” Land Use Designation.

NPU-O Council District 5 CDP-08-15 08-O-0328

2. 629 Highland, 221, 229 and 235 Lampkin from the “Low Density Residential” Land Use Designations to the “Mixed Use-Low Density” Land Use Designation (Z-08-65).

NPU-M Council District 2 CDP-08-51 08-O-2119

3. a. To remove the proposed new road to be located between Colonial Homes Drive and Biscayne Drive also designated as NS 057. 09-O-0266

b. To amend the Street Framework Plan of the City of Atlanta’s BeltLine Plan so as to remove portions of the proposed new roads to be located between Colonial Homes Drive and Biscayne Drive and the northern area of the street originating at Bennet Street that runs through Colonial Homes Dr.

4. 2284 Alvin Drive, from the “Low Density Residential” Land Use Designation to the “Medium Density Residential” Land Use Designation (Z-08-82).

NPU-G Council District 9 CDP-08-56 09-O-0290

5. In the Buckhead Village, from the “High Density Commercial” Land Use Designation to the “Mixed Use-High Density” Land Use Designation.

NPU-B Council District 7 CDP-09-06 09-O-0296

6. In the Edgewood Neighborhood, from “Various” Land Use Designations to “Various” Land Use Designations.

NPU-O Council District 5 CDP-09-07 09-O-0297

7. 655 & 668 Highland Ave, NE, from the “Low Density Residential” Land Use Designation to the “Low Density Commercial” Land Use Designation.

NPU-M Council District 2 CDP-09-08 09-O-0298

8. 949 Mayson Turner Road and 132 Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard, from the “Single Family Residential” and “Low Density Residential” Land Use Designation to the “Low Density Commercial” Land Use Designation (Z-08-80).

NPU-K Council District 3 CDP-09-09 09-O-0299

9. 3755 and 3765 Forrest Park Road, 950 Conley Drive and Parcel 14 00010002052, from the “Industrial” Land Use Designation to the “Medium Density Residential” Land Use Designation (Z-09-01).

NPU-Z Council District 12 CDP-09-10 09-O-0300

10. 772 Bender Street, from the “Single Family Residential” Land Use Designation to the “Medium Density Residential” Land Use Designation (Z-08-84).

NPU-V Council District 4 CDP-09-12 09-O-0301

11. 305 & 311 Buckhead Avenue, NE (A.K.A. 315 Buckhead Avenue), from the “Low Density Commercial” Land Use Designation to the “Mixed Use-High Density” Land Use Designation (Z-07-46).

NPU-B Council District 7 CDP-09-13 09-O-0305

12. Adopting “Atlanta BeltLine Master Plan Sub-Area 2: Heritage Communities of South Atlanta”. CDP-09-14 09-O-0127

13. Adopting “Atlanta BeltLine Master Plan Sub-Area 3: Boulevard Crossing”.

CDP-09-15 09-O-0128

14. Adopting “Atlanta BeltLine Master Plan Sub-Area 5: Freedom Parkway”.

CDP-09-16 09-O-0129

15. Adopting “Atlanta BeltLine Master Plan Sub-Area 7: Northside/Peachtree/Piedmont.

CDP-09-17 09-O-0130

16. Adopting “Atlanta BeltLine Master Plan Sub-Area 9: Upper Marietta/Westside Reservoir Park”. CDP-09-18 09-O-0131

17. Properties located in the Atlanta BeltLine Subarea 2 – Heritage Communities of South Atlanta, from “Various” Land Use Designations to “Various” Land Use Designations.

NPUs-S, V, X & Y Council District 1, 4 &12 CDP-09-01 09-O-0291

18. Properties located in the Atlanta BeltLine Subarea 3 – Boulevard Crossing, from “Various” Land Use Designations to “Various” Land Use Designations.

NPUs-W, & Y Council District 1 CDP-09-02 09-O-0292

19. Properties located in the Atlanta BeltLine Subarea 5 – Freedom Parkway, from “Low Density Residential” Land Use Designation to the “Medium Density Residential” Land Use Designation.

NPU-N Council District 2 CDP-09-03 09-O-0293

20. Properties located in the Atlanta BeltLine Subarea 7 – Northside/Peachtree/Piedmont, from “Industrial” Land Use Designation to the “Mixed Use-High Density” Land Use Designation.

NPU-F Council District 7 CDP-09-04 09-O-0294

21. Properties located in the Atlanta BeltLine Subarea 9 – Upper Marietta/Westside Park, from “Various” Land Use Designations to “Various” Land Use Designations.

NPUs-G,J,K & L Council Districts 3 & 9 CDP-09-05 09-O-0295

For more information contact Bureau of Planning at 404-330-6145

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME!

PUBLIC NOTICE

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

MARCH 09, 2009

6:00 P.M.

The Community Development/Human Resources Committee of the Atlanta City Council will hold its first quarter Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) Amendments Public Hearing on Monday, March 09, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, 2nd floor, City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue, SW on the following Ordinance:

09-O-0376 ( 1) An Ordinance by Councilmember Clair Muller to amend the Street Framework Plan of the City of Atlanta’s BeltLine Plan so as to remove portions of the proposed new roads to be located between Colonial Homes Drive and Biscayne Drive and the northern area of the street originating at Bennet Street that runs through Colonial Homes Dr.; and for other purposes.

For more information contact Bureau of Planning at 404-330-6145

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME!

(Photo by Alan Friedman)