Critical Upcoming Meeting
Your Voice Matters!
Mark your calendar for this crucial City Council meeting that will determine Shakerag's future:
City Hall Address: 11360 Lakefield Dr, Johns Creek, GA 30097
Add to CalendarThe City Council will make the final decision on the Embry Farms rezoning proposal. Strong community attendance is vital to demonstrate our commitment to preserving Shakerag's character.
Our Concerns
The proposed rezoning of Embry Farms with 1/4-acre lots threatens to urbanize Johns Creek's last rural area - a region rich in Cherokee heritage and designated for preservation in the 2018 Comprehensive Plan.
If approved as submitted, this proposal may harm all stakeholders:
- The City risks infrastructure strain and diminished public trust
- The Applicant risks a failed sales strategy due to impractical pricing and congestion
- The Community risks decreased property values, increased traffic, and erosion of Shakerag's rural identity
Environmental Limitations
The Embry Farms site has significant topographical challenges that limit responsible development:
- Minimal road frontage
- Steep slopes and large floodplains
- Over 73% of the land lies within the protected Chattahoochee River Corridor
For decades, the Embry family used this parcel as a private farm because of these environmental constraints. Any future development must respect these limitations.
Legal Concerns
We believe that:
- The 2018 Comprehensive Plan clearly reduced allowable density in Shakerag to 1 unit per net acre or less
- CUP zoning is being improperly used to bypass AG-1 1-acre minimum standards
- The 2019 Ashton Woods denial should serve as binding precedent
- Critical zoning provisions are being misinterpreted as merely "best practices" rather than enforceable requirements
Reference Documents:
Our Request
We respectfully ask the City Council to:
- Follow the Planning Commission's recommendation to reject the proposal
- Review legal standards from the Georgia Planning Act, 2018 Comprehensive Plan, and Zoning Ordinance
- Consider the 2019 Ashton Woods denial as binding precedent
- Recognize the risk of setting a precedent that could erode the entire Shakerag Character Area
This is not anti-development. We support responsible growth that respects our community's character and environmental constraints.
Contact Your City Council
Please reach out to your City Council members to express your concerns about the Embry Farms rezoning:
Mayor: John Bradberry | john.bradberry@johnscreekga.gov
City Council Members:
- Post 1: Dilip Tunki | dilip.tunki@johnscreekga.gov
- Post 2: Stacy Skinner | stacy.skinner@johnscreekga.gov
- Post 3: Bob Erramilli | bob.erramilli@johnscreekga.gov
- Post 4: Chris Coughlin | chris.coughlin@johnscreekga.gov
- Post 5: Larry DiBiase | larry.dibiase@johnscreekga.gov
- Post 6: Erin Elwood | erin.elwood@johnscreekga.gov
City Hall Address: 11360 Lakefield Dr, Johns Creek, GA 30097
City Hall Phone: (678) 512-3200
Join Our Cause
Help us protect Shakerag's rural character and ensure responsible development.
Sign the Petition Add Meeting to Calendar