PETITION TO OPPOSE PAPER STREET DEVELOPMENT

Protect East Atlanta Village's Tree Canopy, Safety, and Infrastructure

URGENT ACTION REQUIRED: The City Arborist has approved the removal of over 80
healthy, mature trees. Action must be taken immediately to appeal this decision before clearing begins.

We, the undersigned residents of East Atlanta Village (EAV), formally petition the City of Atlanta to halt the
proposed development of the 19th-century "paper street" configuration running along the southern edge of I-20 (connecting Lamon Ave SE and McPherson Ave SE near Maynard Terrace).
This project is moving forward with zero community engagement, heavily prioritizing the

financial interests of an outside developer over the safety, infrastructure stability, and public health of long-
standing EAV households.

CRITICAL COMMUNITY IMPACTS
1. Severe Flooding & Infrastructure Strain
The steep topography of this area acts as the natural drainage and runoff basin for the McPherson Avenue
ridge. Replacing this forested green space with impervious surfaces (asphalt roads and rooftops) will severely disrupt existing stormwater flow, causing catastrophic flooding on downstream properties that are already overwhelmed by heavy Atlanta rain events.
2. Hazardous Noise Pollution
The existing urban forest provides the neighborhood's only acoustic buffer against the substantial noise of
interstate traffic. Demolishing this canopy will immediately degrade local property values and quality of life. If any development is ever evaluated here, the developer must be legally mandated to install professional-grade, high-performance highway sound barriers.
3. Degradation of Air Quality & Health
This mature canopy serves as a critical "green lung" for EAV, filtering out heavy vehicle exhaust and
dangerous particulate matter directly emanating from I-20. Eradicating these 80+ healthy trees will channel concentrated highway pollution directly into our homes, yards, and our children's lungs, posing a direct public health hazard.
OUR DEMANDS TO CITY OFFICIALS
Immediate Stay on Tree Removal:  Halt all approved tree-cutting permits pending a full, transparent
administrative appeal and environmental impact review.

Mandatory Public Hearings: Enforce full transparency and community engagement protocols before any
further development or infrastructure approvals are granted.
Infrastructure Protections: Require comprehensive, independent stormwater management and acoustic
mitigation studies (including developer-funded sound walls) before any zoning or access permits are
considered.

By signing below, we urge the City of Atlanta to protect our historic neighborhood, enforce its
own environmental standards, and reject this destructive and unsafe development proposal.