Chamblee city councilman involved in controversial development resigns

CHAMBLEE — Chamblee City councilmember Darron Kusman has resigned amid ethics allegations related to a development he was working on.

Kusman sent a resignation letter to Chamblee residents Friday morning.

Channel 2 Action News first reported that Kusman was affiliated with a controversial development on Harts Mill Road in February. Developers planned to pack five homes into a narrow, 1.04-acre lot.

Neighbors said developers were taking advantage of a conservation ordinance meant to preserve greenspace to instead pack smaller lots with more houses.

“You can imagine putting five homes on just over an acre and finding 30 percent greenspace, you gotta be really creative,” said Bruce Brittain, who lives nearby.

At the time, Brittain said Kusman would not clarify how he was affiliated with the development or what his financial interest was in the project.

In a resignation letter sent to Chamblee residents Friday, Kusman said he was passionate about real estate and was giving up his position on the city council to work as a real estate developer.

“After careful review and consideration, I have decided that I am best able to serve my community and family as a developer,” Kusman wrote. “As such, it is with a heavy heart that I will be resigning my position as Councilman - At Large, effective October 16, 2020.”

Kusman served on the city council for eight years.

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