DeKalb Advisory Committee Meeting with Richard McLeod, City of Dunwoody

Richard McLeod
Community Development Director
City of Dunwoody

Richard grew up in metro Atlanta and has been working in planning and community development for the last 18 years.
He began his career in planning with the City of Woodstock where he shared the ARC Development of Excellence award for the revitalization of downtown Woodstock. He also went on to gain awards for the Greenprints Master Plan, a PEDs award for walkability, and several GPA planning acknowledgments.
Richard then went on to work in Alpharetta where he led the implementation of the mixed-use Avalon project and helped redesign the downtown zoning project. He now works for the City of Dunwoody and is instrumental in developing the vision for Atlanta’s Perimeter area and the revitalization of Dunwoody’s restaurant and commercial shopping districts.
 
In the City of Dunwoody, he saw that the Village Overlay was a bit outdated. He lead the process of rewriting the code which designed it for a true urban village and not strip mall style development. It took nearly a year and a half but it had very little public opposition. Today, he is working on a rewrite on the sign code which should be done early summer. Lastly, he got the entertainment distinct approved. It allows drinking of alcoholic beverages in a defined area.