---
date: 2003-12-09
title: December 9, 2003 Minutes
source: 2003-12/2003-12-09_December 9, 2003_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

December 9, 2003
MINUTES

STOCKBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

FOR

DECEMBER 9, 2003

AND

DECEMBER 16, 2003

PAUL REED OF NEWNAN, GEORGIA. Ray Gibson, Henry County Planner, advised the Council that Mr.
Reed requested rezoning from RA (Residential Agricultural) to RM-3 (Multiple-Family Condominiums) in
Land Lots 68, 69, and 93 of the 12th District, for property located on East Atlanta Road, near Valley Hill
Road. The property contains 25.8 acres and the request is of Multiple-Family Residential Condominiums.
Mr. Reed also requested rezoning from RA (Residential Agricultural) to C-2 (General Commercial) in Land
Lots 68 and 69 of the 12th District, for property located on East Atlanta, Road, near Valley Hill Road. The
property contains 5.0 acres and the request is for a commercial development.

Mr. Reed advised the Council that he is trying to get the Council to approve twenty-five (25) acres to RM-3
for about 202 townhomes. They are surrounded by light industrial, light manufacturing, and Publix and
commercial on the other side. They plan to have a road through Valley Hill to the traffic light to help the
traffic flow with East Atlanta being a major arterial road. They will comply with all of the City ordinances
and they are asking for eight (8) units per acre. They will provide all the amenities and all the thing required
point system wise to get the approval for eight units per acres.

Mayor Kelley asked if the townhomes will be all brick. Mr. Reed said they would be whatever the City
requires. Each unit will be individual with a garage in back with alley ways, and with all the amenities.
They would like to get with the City regarding the parks across the street. They might be able to tie those
together. The will offer the City money for improvements to the parks instead of putting all the amenities
just on their side.

Mr. Welch asked Mr. Reed if he has read the conditions that were set forth in the Planning Report and Mr.
Reed responded that he has read the conditions and the only thing he would like to ask is that his
landscape person review the plan and maybe come up with more variety of certain types of trees. Mr.
Welch asked Mr. Reed if he is prepared to sign the Development Agreement to encompass the zoning
conditions and all the requirements added to the Agreement by virtue of the planning recommendations.
Mr. Reed responded that he understands that the Agreement goes with the property.

Ted Strickland, City Manager, advised the Council that this project fits in with the Livable Centers Initiative
program that the City has been working with and receiving Federal Grants for sidewalks, streetscapes, curb
and gutter and lighting.

Mr. Reed advised the Council that his development will have an entrance into the Publix Shopping Center
and sidewalks on East Atlanta as they plan to have a lot of foot traffic.

Councilman Steve Moon asked if any of this development will be rental property and Mr. Reed responded
that the development will be zoned for condominiums but will look like townhomes with a two story look with
brick. Councilman Moon asked what kind of amenities they are talking about. Mr. Reed responded they
will have a basketball court, junior Olympic size pool, two tennis courts, and walking trails. If the City wants
to do something with the park, that will be part of the Development Agreement.

Mr. Welch pointed out that the City Ordinance specifies that there are certain amenities that are required.
There is a Club House requirement for this development and those of the minimum requirements for
amenities and with the development going up in density from four (4) to eight (8) units per acre, there is
substantially more requirement for amenities that have to be placed in the Development Agreement. There
is a certain percentage of the property can be impervious and back alleys, and garages are required. Cars
will not be allowed to park on streets except in emergency situations.

April Seay, Ridgecrest Subdivision, adjacent to the property for the two hundred and two (202)
condominium units. Ms. Seay presented a signed petition from the residents in the neighborhood. Their
neighborhood consists of sixty-nine (69) homes and fifty (50) residents would not like to see any type of
condominium units or multi-family residential housing zoning on the property. Basically, due to the traffic
congestion in the area at present to add 202 homes with the additional trips in and out just back and forth to
work would add extreme congestion in the area and then the potential conversation of foot traffic in the
area to add the extra units per acre that would be potentially a very risky situation for residents, any
residents in the area that would consider foot traffic back and forth to the parks or Publix. There is a great
concern for the schools in the area for that many homes to add potentially that many children into it.
Basically, everyone in their neighborhood would like to see the property utilized for some type of public
service or a single family residential housing.

Gordon Boushea, Ridgecrest Subdivision, has lived in the subdivision for thirty (30) years. At the Zoning
Board meeting; they turned it down because it had no merit there. They figured up there will be two
thousand (2,000) cars a day on East Atlanta with each condo having two cars. We know the schools are
over crowded and about seven (7) months ago, the Henry County Water Authority approached him about
running a high pressure water line through his property because there is low water pressure in that
neighborhood and if you add that many more people in the neighborhood you know the water pressure will
be low. He is concerned about the kids that will be living there running across the streets to the parks and
all that there; you are going to have kids out there constantly and the schools. They would like to see
maybe the City and County go together and buy the property and put a new senior citizens area in there or
something of that nature or even single dwelling homes. If Mr. Reed builds what he is talking about
building, all brick townshouses and all the houses in that subdivision are cedar siding, they will stick out like
a sore thumb right there in the neighborhood. Since Publix went in he had his house reappraised and the
value dropped. He talks with lawyers everyday and they say that once these condos go in, his property
value will drop again. That means that everybody in the subdivision will be loosing because he wants to
build there.

Harriett Bowen, Collier Road, stated that she has lived in Stockbridge for eleven and one half (11 ½) years.
Collier Road is right behind the Publix store. When going to work each morning she travels East Atlanta
turning left on to Valley Hill. At the stop sign at the end of Valley Hill and State Route 23/42 it sometimes
takes five (5) minutes waiting just to turn right because someone in front wants to turn left. She is fine with
developing but the infrastructure needs to keep pace with housing and everything that wants to go in there.
We need more roads and water like the other gentleman suggested but obviously that is not going to
happen. Single family housing would be fine. We do need to think about the kids and maybe a senior
citizen area would be ok too. As far as putting in two hundred and two (202) townhomes plus the shopping
center, it just not needed.

Ellen and Larry Anderson, 454 East Atlanta Road, have lived at this address for the past thirty-one (31)
years and Richard Pierce, owner and resident of 438 East Atlanta asked Mrs. Anderson to read a
statement on behalf of Larry and Richard.

Larry Anderson and Richard Pierce would like the residents of Amanda Court subdivision to know that they
do sympathize with their concerns regarding this development. As neighboring landowners and parents of
school aged children they voice the same concerns themselves when the Amanda Court subdivision was
under development. Their concerns at that time regarding the Amanda Court development were so strong
that it prompted them to plant trees at their own monetary and physical expense to provide a natural buffer
between their properties and the Amanda Court development. Even though Mr. Reed's plans show that he
will retain the natural buffer, the residents of Amanda Court have squawked foul over how such a
development could effect their environment. Their attitude seems to be one of now that I am here,
everything needs to remain the same mentality that Richard and Larry feel they have also been guilty of in
the past.

After reading of the plans for the City of Stockbridge to embrace the Livable Centers Initiative program,
Larry and Richard feel that Mr. Reed's developments seems to come close to what the City seems to have
in mind. Mr. Reed has expressed the desire to work with the City's revitalization plans of having new
pedestrian friendly residential developments located in already commercialized areas. The development of
homeowners, not transient apartment dwellers, will directly connect with the shopping, dining and other
miscellaneous businesses. In addition, he has voiced a desire to work with the City to make it possible to
have pedestrian access to the park area with the development under discussion.
Not everyone has concerns regarding urban sprawl which is now plaguing most of the metro area.
Revitalization of existing commercial areas seems to be a primary first step in controlling sprawl. We ask
that those making decisions tonight to please keep in mind that the property being discussed where not
only the Publix Shopping area but Rico Mexican Restaurant is directly across from the railroad, Johnston
Steel and an electrical company. Mrs. Anderson thanked the Council giving the time for her to read the
statement.

Mayor Kelley noted that everyone has heard both sides of the story and advised the Council to make their
decision.

Harold Cochran made a motion to approve the request for rezoning of the twenty-five (25) acres from RA to
RM-3 for the purpose of constructing two hundred and two (202) townhomes; Fletcher Turner seconded,
and passed unanimously. Conditions are set forth on Exhibit "C" attached to the Rezoning Ordinance.

Harold Cochran made a motion to approve rezoning of the five (5) acre tract from RA to C-2 for commercial
development; Fred Evans seconded, and passed unanimously. Conditions are set forth on Exhibit "C"
attached to the Rezoning Ordinance.
