Brookhaven / Chamblee: A $559M Water Vote and a Retail Village Rising

Hey Brookhaven and Chamblee! DeKalb commissioners are set to vote on nearly $560 million in water infrastructure contracts and a new alcohol licensing overhaul is headed to the Brookhaven City Council Monday night. Meanwhile, a challenger just flipped a DeKalb commissioner seat, a rodent infestation has the Chamblee IRS office in full cleanup mode, and a walkable retail village is starting to take real shape alongside 630 new homes. Plenty to dig into below.

- News — An IRS office battles rodents, DeKalb passes a $1.6B school budget, a commissioner seat flips to a challenger, and a paperwork error is holding up millions in school funding.
- Business — The 630-home AMLI Brookhaven development is bringing a 20,000-square-foot walkable retail and dining village to a stretch of the city that's never had one.
- Events — Todd Rundgren hits Buckhead Theatre Monday and the Telemundo Fútbol Fest closes out the weekend at Assembly Atlanta.
- Government — Today is a big day: DeKalb commissioners vote on $559M in water contracts and a possible data center moratorium, while Brookhaven holds its final millage rate hearing and votes on a sweeping new late-night alcohol ordinance.
- Construction — A third lane is being added to the Ashford Dunwoody I-285 on-ramp, Buford Highway resurfacing is underway, and a $500K green space project appears to be quietly in the works at Woodacres Road.

Let's dive in.

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NEWS

Rodent infestation prompts aggressive cleaning plan at Chamblee IRS office
The Chamblee IRS office is in full remediation mode after employees raised serious safety concerns over a rodent infestation severe enough to trigger an aggressive cleaning response. If you live or work near the facility, expect to see increased pest control activity in the area.

Metro Atlanta city shares how services app has helped residents get things fixed
Brookhaven is touting the real-world wins of its "Brookhaven Connects" app, which lets residents report potholes, code violations, and maintenance issues straight to city hall from their phones. Neighbors have already seen faster fixes; worth downloading if you've been silently fuming about that pothole on your street.

DeKalb School Board narrowly passes a $1.6 billion budget
After a tight vote, the DeKalb County School Board approved a $1.6 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year. The budget shapes everything from classroom staffing to facility upkeep at the public schools your kids — or your neighbors' kids — attend every day.

Incumbent DeKalb commissioner defeated in runoff election, and DeKalb School board member chosen
Commissioner Nicole Massiah lost her District 3 seat to challenger Keyanna Jones Moore in a runoff that signals a meaningful shift in DeKalb's county leadership. On the school board side, Tracy Brisson emerged victorious over Sonja Szubski in District 4 in a race where both candidates were newcomers to the board.

DeKalb County to launch affordable housing investment bond
DeKalb County is moving to address its housing crunch with a new affordable housing investment bond program designed to finance residential development across the county. For a region where housing costs have climbed steadily, this program could meaningfully shape what gets built in the years ahead.

Atlanta, Decatur schools owed millions in sales tax funds after paperwork error
A bureaucratic paperwork mistake has left City Schools of Decatur and Atlanta Public Schools waiting on millions in E-SPLOST funds that should already be in hand from DeKalb Schools. Those dollars are earmarked for capital improvements and operations, so residents should keep a close eye on how the delay ripples through local school budgets.

BUSINESS

AMLI Brookhaven Retail Village - opening - A 20,000-square-foot walkable retail and dining village is taking shape as part of the 630-home AMLI Brookhaven development, promising a genuine neighborhood commercial hub where there wasn't one before. New retail includes a nail salon, Brazilian steakhouse, bagel shop, pizzeria and gelateria / cafe. Yum.

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Monday, June 22
- Fossil Frenzy Scavenger Hunt | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Civic Season is Here | Chamblee Library
- Big Idea Dinosaur Adventures | Chamblee, GA
- Toddler Time | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Todd Rundgren: DAMNED IF I DO TOUR | Buckhead Theatre

Tuesday, June 23
- Mahjong & Mingle at Shops Around Lenox | Shops Around Lenox

Wednesday, June 24
- Decorate a Dinosaur | Brookhaven Branch Library
- 2 Preachers On A Mission Movie Premiere | LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Brookhaven

Thursday, June 25
- Lotus Lens Screening: Yi Yi | Atlanta Chinatown
- Dinosaur Puppet Workshop | Brookhaven Branch Library
- Jesse Wegman in conversation with Claire Haley | Atlanta History Center
- Under Pressure Pop-up at Brush Sushi | Buckhead Village District

Friday, June 26
- Telemundo ATL Fútbol Fest | Assembly Atlanta
- Food Truck Fridays | 4001 Peachtree Road NE
- Paula Poundstone | Buckhead Theatre
- Summer Fridays | Buckhead Village District

Saturday, June 27
- Brookhaven Farmers Market | Brookhaven Farmers Market
- FREE Puppy Hour at Central Bark Brookhaven | Central Bark Brookhaven
- Fútbol Mundial: Colombia vs Portugal Match Night @ Block & Drum | BLOCK & DRUM
- Make Your Own Fresh Pasta Class at Bella Cucina | Buckhead Village District
- Saturday Vinyasa Yoga Classes with Highland Yoga | Buckhead Village

Sunday, June 28
- Big League Wiffle Ball Regular Season (June 28th) | Assembly Studios Gate 2
- Flower Power: A Flower-Arranging Workshop | Distillery of Modern Art
- Basque in the Sun at Gypsy Kitchen | Buckhead Village District

GOVERNMENT

Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners – Committee of the Whole

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners was scheduled to meet June 18 to take up a packed agenda — though since no minutes are posted, note that any item could be tabled, deferred, or withdrawn before action is taken. The biggest-ticket item was a proposed $233.8 million design-build contract with Ruby-Collins, Inc. to demolish and rebuild major infrastructure at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant, the facility that serves much of the county's drinking water supply; a separate $325.5 million multi-year contract for on-call water and sewer repairs was also on the table. Residents who walk or bike local trails will want to watch two proposed design contracts — a $3.12 million agreement to plan Phase VI of the South River Trail and a $998,946 contract to design a North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail segment toward Chamblee Tucker Road — which would advance two of the county's most anticipated greenway extensions. Public hearings on the 2026 property tax millage rates were also scheduled, giving residents a formal opportunity to weigh in before the county sets how much homeowners will owe. Rounding out the agenda are proposals to establish strict new zoning standards for data centers, add $1.48 million to the county's ambulance services contract with AMR to improve emergency response times, and allocate $500,000 in SPLOST II funding for a new bicycle and multi-use trail facility along Laredo Drive.

City of Brookhaven – Board of Appeals

The Brookhaven Board of Appeals met in a Work Session on June 17 to preview three residential variance cases, then convened its Regular meeting the same evening to consider formal action — though no minutes are posted for the Regular session, so outcomes there remain unconfirmed. At the Work Session, the board discussed all three applications with no votes taken: two separate requests to increase the maximum allowed impervious lot coverage (the share of a property that can be covered by hard surfaces like driveways, patios, and rooflines that don't absorb rainwater) and one request to reduce the minimum required setback for an accessory structure such as a shed or detached garage. City staff recommended conditional approval on all three cases going into the Regular meeting. Impervious coverage variances draw neighborhood attention because added hard surfaces can change how stormwater drains across nearby lots, making these decisions relevant beyond the individual properties involved.

City of Chamblee – City Council

The Chamblee City Council convened June 16 for both a Public Hearing & Work Session and a Regular meeting, with an agenda-heavy night centered on property taxes and neighborhood development — though since no minutes are posted, all items should be treated as scheduled rather than decided. On the tax front, the council was set to vote on 2026 millage rates for the general city, the Chamblee Downtown Special Services District, the Dresden Plaster Special Services District, and the General Obligation Bond, meaning most Chamblee property owners could see their bills affected by multiple line items at once. Two development proposals received first readings — one along Chamblee Dunwoody Road and a multi-parcel case near Keswick Park involving properties on London Road, Keswick Drive, and Ashton Woods Drive — with first readings marking the start of the public review process, not a final decision. The council is also scheduled to vote on a residential composting partnership with CompostNow, which would give Chamblee households a curbside food-scrap pickup option, and a temporary moratorium on enforcement of the city's sign ordinance, which could offer short-term flexibility for local businesses.

DeKalb County School District – Board of Education

The DeKalb County School District Board of Education had a consequential week, holding two sessions on June 15 — a called meeting for the second budget presentation and third millage rate public hearing (where no final votes were recorded), followed by a Regular meeting where the board took major action across several fronts. At the Regular meeting, the board formally adopted the FY2027 operating budget and approved the accompanying property tax levy resolution, locking in the school district's funding plan for the coming school year. The board also approved continuation of the E-SPLOST, the one-cent sales tax dedicated to school construction and capital improvements, through an intergovernmental agreement that keeps that funding stream alive for future facility projects. On the spending side, the board authorized a $15 million purchase of updated K-12 science instructional materials districtwide, a $3.14 million order for new school buses, and significant renovation contracts for Stoneview Elementary and Dresden Elementary — the latter including a $1.36 million parking lot overhaul. Perhaps the most forward-looking action of the night was the first reading of a new board policy on Artificial Intelligence, signaling the district is beginning to formally establish rules around AI use in its schools.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

City of Brookhaven Board of Appeals
- Brooke Greene — A variance request to increase the allowable impervious lot coverage was discussed at a June 17 work session, with city staff recommending conditional approval; a final vote is scheduled at the same evening's regular meeting.
- Devine Circle — A variance to increase impervious coverage limits was reviewed at the June 17 work session, where staff recommended conditional approval, with the matter set for a vote at the regular meeting.
- Hearst Drive — A request to reduce the minimum setback for an accessory structure was discussed at the June 17 work session, with city staff recommending conditional approval; a vote is scheduled at the regular meeting.

City of Chamblee City Council
- 3392 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd — A planning and zoning proposal (PZ2026-1700) is scheduled for its first reading, marking the initial step in the public review process for any land-use changes at this location.
- 3515 London Rd, 3468 Keswick Dr & 3535 Ashton Woods Dr — A multi-parcel rezoning or redevelopment proposal (PZ2026-1729) affecting this residential cluster near Keswick Park is on the agenda for a first reading.
- 1900 & 1901 Century Blvd — A planning and zoning staff action item (PZ2026-1644) is scheduled to be heard, with a vote possible on changes affecting this commercial area near I-85.
- 5037 Peachtree Rd — A zoning or planning case (PZ2026-1664) is on the agenda for a staff action vote along Chamblee's main commercial corridor.

Meetings This Week
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole — Monday, June 23 at 9:00 AM, 178 Sam's Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201). No agenda is available at this time.
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Regular Meeting — Monday, June 23 at 9:00 AM, 178 Sam's Street, Decatur (Multipurpose Room A1201). The board is scheduled to vote on the 2026 property tax millage rates, proposed increases to stormwater utility and sanitation fees, and a potential moratorium on new data center land disturbance permits pending a health and environmental impact study. Also on the agenda: a $233.8 million design-build contract for upgrades at the Scott Candler Water Treatment Plant, a $3.12 million design contract for Phase VI of the South River Trail, and a $998,946 design contract for the North Fork Peachtree Creek Trail from Fisher Trail to Chamblee Tucker Road.
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Millage Rate Hearing (2nd Presentation) — Monday, June 23 at 10:30 AM, Brookhaven City Hall, 4001 Peachtree Road. The council will hold its second public hearing on the proposed FY 2026 millage rates, which determine the city portion of property owners' tax bills. Residents who cannot attend in person can submit written comments to [email protected].
- City of Brookhaven — Advisory Audit Committee — Monday, June 23 at 11:00 AM, PEP Building. No agenda is available at this time.
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Millage Rate Hearing (Final Presentation) — Monday, June 23 at 6:30 PM, Brookhaven City Hall, 4001 Peachtree Road. The council will hold its third and final public hearing on the proposed FY 2026 millage rates before rates are officially set. This is the last opportunity for residents to comment before a vote.
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Public Hearing — Monday, June 23 at 6:30 PM, PEP Building. No agenda is available at this time.
- City of Chamblee — Downtown Development Authority Regular Meeting — Monday, June 23 at 6:30 PM, Chamblee City Hall Council Chambers. No agenda is available at this time.
- City of Brookhaven — City Council Regular Meeting — Monday, June 23 at 6:45 PM, Brookhaven City Hall, 4001 Peachtree Road. The council is scheduled to vote on six resolutions adopting the city's FY 2026 millage rates — covering general operations, bonds, stormwater, and special tax districts — along with a sweeping new ordinance that would overhaul late-night alcohol licensing using a point-based penalty system and mandatory off-duty police staffing requirements. Also on the agenda: a $50,000 local match transfer to support the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program, and a public hearing on proposed updates to the city's zoning review procedures.
- City of Chamblee — Discover Chamblee Advisory Committee — Wednesday, June 24 at 12:00 PM, Chamblee City Hall Council Chambers. No agenda is available at this time.
- City of Chamblee — Public Arts Commission Regular Meeting — Thursday, June 25 at 6:00 PM, Chamblee City Hall Council Chambers. No agenda is available at this time.

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Permits

Not a ton of action to report this week. A few items worth flagging:

- Woodacres Rd NE — $500K accessory structure permit filed for a natural recreation area on city property at the end of the road. Sounds like a neighborhood green space project is in the works — keep an eye on this one.
- Harts Mill Rd — $100K single-family permit on what's currently a vacant lot. New home coming to an empty parcel.

Beyond that, it was a quiet week — a handful of property maintenance jobs, some occupational tax certificates, and routine residential work across the area, totaling around $29K in estimated value. Nothing that should rattle your windows.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Peachtree Industrial Blvd Signal Optimization (DeKalb County) — Active signal timing work is underway along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard between Peachtree Road and New Peachtree Road. Expect minor delays through the corridor as crews fine-tune the system.
- SR-13 Resurfacing, Fulton County Line to Chamblee Tucker Road (DeKalb County) — Paving crews are working along SR-13 (Buford Highway) to address a low pavement condition rating on this stretch. If you travel this corridor regularly, watch for lane restrictions and plan extra time.
- Ashford Dunwoody Road EB Ramp at I-285 (DeKalb County) — A third lane is being added to the eastbound on-ramp from Ashford Dunwoody Road onto I-285 northbound, a long-needed fix for one of the area's more frustrating merge points. Expect active construction activity near the interchange while work continues.

Pre-Construction

- Ashford Dunwoody Road at Windsor Parkway (DeKalb County) — Intersection safety and operational improvements are planned at this busy crossing. No timeline yet, but it's funded and moving through the process — worth watching if this is part of your daily route.
- Chamblee Rail Trail Extension (DeKalb County) — A shared-use path is planned from Pierce Drive north to Peachtree Boulevard, then along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to Chamblee Dunwoody Road. A meaningful addition for cyclists and pedestrians in Chamblee when it gets built.
- Shallowford Road Bike/Ped Improvements (DeKalb County) — A 10-foot shared-use path along the west side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side of Shallowford Road, running about 0.74 miles between New Peachtree Road and Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Solid infrastructure coming to a stretch that needs it.
- SR-141 / Peachtree Boulevard at North Shallowford Road (DeKalb County) — In Chamblee, this project would realign the intersection of Peachtree Boulevard at North Shallowford Road. The geometry there is already awkward — this one will be worth tracking as it moves closer to construction.