DeKalb commissioners approve petition process for Clifton Road traffic-calming plan after contentious public hearing

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 28 approved a substitute agenda item to begin the county's 90-day petition process for traffic calming on Clifton Road between Ponce de Leon Avenue and North Decatur Road. The petition, if successful, would allow residents to hold a binding vote on installing speed tables and related measures across a 1.5-mile stretch of roadway that links Emory/CDC areas to neighborhoods.

The vote followed more than an hour of public hearing testimony from residents and petition organizers. Doug Rollins, who identified himself as the petition initiator, said his group followed the countys codified traffic-calming process for more than two years and collected initial signatures indicating neighborhood support. "We started that process over two years ago. We have followed that process to the letter," Rollins said, urging commissioners to let residents demonstrate support by petition.

Opponents said the plan as designed would harm emergency response and impose unwelcome traffic impacts. William Helms, who described himself as a near-49-year resident of Clifton Road and a…