The owner of a plot of land near Appalachian Beverage is now applying to build an apartment complex on it. This comes after East Ellijay city council members voted to approve the deannexation of that property from the city to the county at a meeting on Feb. 27.
Steve West, with Coosawattee Properties, LLC, has submitted the application for rezoning purposes for his proposed use of the 6.47-acre plot.
Planning and zoning director Jim Smith said he’s applied for R5 zoning for a complex of about 50 units along Mountain View Drive.
“There is good transportation access,” Smith said in reference to there being two exit points from the property. “There is no disruption to the neighborhood because the R5 zoning doesn’t conflict with the commercial zone properties that are already there … so from a planning standpoint, the project is compatible with the area.”
He noted that West is collaborating with Georgia Communities Inc. on this proposed project. The company currently has another apartment complex under construction along Courier Street in Ellijay.
West’s application is under consideration by the Gilmer County Board of Land Use Appeals. The board will hold a public hearing Thursday, April 17, at 5 p.m. in the Gilmer County Jury Assembly Room.
The hearing is when people can voice their concerns on this apartment complex request, among other various applications. Depending on how the planning commission rules, the Gilmer Board of Commissioners would make the final decision on the property’s use in May, according to Smith.