The Athens Clarke-County Commission unanimously denied a request to build townhouses on Olympic Drive on June 6.
The 66-acre area is currently zoned for industrial use, but is currently vacant as its uneven geography has made it difficult to construct manufacturing facilities.
The prospective developer pitched housing as a better fit. According to the application, the development would include about 250 townhouses in a gated community.
The planning commission recommended denying approval in a 6-1 vote due to a lack of transportation and neighborhood services for residents and the potential negative impact on Athena Industrial Park.
Residents of the area voiced additional concerns that new housing would exacerbate traffic and provide no benefit to their existing neighborhood.
District 3 Commissioner Tiffany Taylor spoke on the issue before the vote.
“I also stand firm on waiting for future land use to see what we could do with this parcel that will actually benefit inner East Athens and not gentrify it,” Taylor said.
The commissioners discussed that considering a different zoning option in the future could address the area’s vacancy and resident concerns.
