Map it out with us!

This plan aims to meet the vision for the Indian Creek station area established in the DeKalb Unified Plan, the recent comprehensive land use and transportation plan for the unincorporated parts of the county. The Indian Creek station area is envisioned as a Town Center activity center, with a focus on walkable, transit-supportive redevelopment. As owner of the Indian Creek station and surrounding surface parking lots, MARTA has enlisted the services of the Atlanta office of WSP, an engineering and design services company, to develop a TOD master plan in coordination with MARTA, DeKalb County, and the community. MARTA is partnering with DeKalb County on this effort. At the end of the planning work, MARTA will apply to rezone the Indian Creek Station property to match the conceptual site plan from the Master Plan process. Once rezoning is approved, MARTA will plan to release a request for proposals (RFP) to attract developers to redevelop the Indian Creek Station site. The developer will use the conceptual site plan from this process, but they will have some flexibility to adjust, assuming they meet MARTA and the community’s goals.

Transit-Oriented Development, or TOD, means development that is vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, and genuinely integrated with transit that supports both local community development and regional economic development. TOD often includes a mix of uses including a variety of housing types, office, and retail within a five to 10-minute walk of a transit station. It is generally denser than the development surrounding it and is supported by high quality neighborhood amenities, such as parks, plazas, and other public spaces. Some of the benefits of TOD include: 1. Reduced household driving and thus lowered regional congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions 2. Walkable communities that accommodate more healthy and active lifestyles 3. Increased transit ridership and fare revenue 4. Potential for added value created through increased and/or sustained property values 5. Improved access to jobs and economic opportunity 6. Expanded mobility options that reduce dependence on the automobile 7. Lower combined housing and transportation expenses for households 8. Strengthened local economies 9. More efficient use of infrastructure and associated maintenance costs

Equitable TOD (ETOD) serves and centers the existing community and creates equal opportunities for people of all incomes, backgrounds, and abilities to enjoy the benefits of transit-oriented development, including increased affordability, access to jobs and opportunity, and more healthy and sustainable neighborhoods. This typically includes the provision of affordable housing, improved pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, accessible community services, and public spaces tailored to the community’s needs. The specifics of what Equitable TOD means at the Indian Creek station will come from the community through the planning process and conversations with stakeholders.

A TOD master plan is a community-driven and actionable plan that lays the foundation for securing TOD-supportive entitlements, directs public and private investment, sets the standard for evaluating development projects, and guides public policy to realize the station area vision. Components of a TOD master plan may include: 1. Preparation of a vision plan and conceptual site plan; 2. Identification of issues, opportunities, and constraints; 3. Development of circulation plans, transportation/transit access, and parking plans; 4. Development of design standards and/or streetscape design features; 5. Development of transit-supportive land use recommendations; and 6. Recommendations for implementation priorities, potential funding partnerships, and project phasing.

The master plan is anticipated to be completed by Summer/Fall 2023.

Recommended land uses will be informed by the planning process, market study, existing conditions, and input from the public and stakeholders. There will likely be a phased development approach including a mixture of residential (affordable and market-rate), commercial, and greenspace. Plans will include enough long-term and commuter parking, balanced with spaces for residential and retail uses. MARTA will take a new approach to parking, which could include shared parking agreements, parking garages, unbundled parking, and replacement parking based on utilization rates. Improved connectivity across transportation modes to and from the station will reduce the number of car trips needed.

The site plan will meet all required zoning buffers and transitions of the new zoning district. Development will transition from more intense uses at the center to lower intensity uses at the edges following the activity center guidelines in the DeKalb Unified Plan.

Greenspace is a vital aspect to equitable TOD, and the master plan can include parks, open space, tree canopy, and landscaping.

MARTA has implemented Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), which is a proactive crime-fighting technique in which the proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in fear of and incidents of crime and an improvement in quality of life. CPTED principles can reduce the opportunity for crime and should be implemented with social programs to tackle the root causes. Public safety also is considered through designing spaces with active uses and residences facing streets and public spaces, rather than blank walls and parking lots, and street lighting. MARTA and the developer will collectively define the joint approach to public safety and police presence.

To share feedback and attend public engagement events, check out the website’s Interactive Map, Public Survey, and Events pages.