The Ellijay City Council approved rezoning a 12-acre parcel near the intersection of Old Highway 5 and Highway 515 to R3 (high density, multifamily residential), but not before the item had been covered, then was later reintroduced for discussion, at Monday’s council meeting.
In a public hearing before the meeting, councilmembers Sandy Ott, Tom Crawford, Katie Lancey, Al Fuller and Kevin Pritchett heard comments from a resident who owns property near the parcel up for rezoning, as well as a local real estate agent who said the intended use is apartments.
Gordon Anderson told the council he owns property right across the street, and he’s concerned about possible traffic that apartments could create, as well as how the structure might be designed.
The land was previously zoned general commercial (GC), but there are currently no buildings on it.
“The property is basically a triangular shape,” Anderson said. “If they’re going to put multifamily housing in there, where is the traffic going to leave the property, right onto Old Highway 5? It’s very close to the intersection of Old Highway 5 and 515.”
Anderson told the council and Mayor Al Hoyle he’d previously served on the City of Decatur’s planning commission. He also asked if the city could make the aesthetics of buildings part of the rezoning process.
Real estate agent Kara Conrey said the GC zoning could create more traffic than the residential zoning being requested, and only about half the 12 acres is useable because of a steep drop-off.
“They’re only going to really use the upper portion of the property,” she said.
No motions were heard from councilmembers when the rezoning request came up for vote during the meeting. Shortly before the meeting reached being adjourned, Ott asked if the item could be reintroduced.
Kayann West, the city’s legal counsel, advised that a motion was needed to bring the item back up and if it passed, another motion and second for approval was needed for any further discussion by the council.
After that procedure was done, Fuller said he’d like to know a little more about plans for the property.
“I know I’m getting the cart before the horse, (but) I don’t know what I’m voting on,” he said. “We’re voting on something you don’t know what the plan is.”
When asked by Fuller how many apartments are being planned, Conrey said she did not know.
The rezoning from GC to R3 eventually passed with no dissenting votes from councilmembers.
Apartments or any other buildings planned for the property will also have to be reviewed and approved by Ellijay’s planning and zoning committee, as well as the city council.