Dozens of east side residents turned out at Tuesday’s Mayor and Commission agenda-setting session, most in opposition to a proposed development near the Green Acres neighborhood.
The developer of the site proposes building 28 townhomes on the parcel, adding up to 76 bedrooms in total. While the proposed development would be sandwiched in between Green Acres and Barnett Shoals Road, entrance to the site would be from a side street, and would require builders to tear down one existing house to allow traffic into the development. The development would also require a hefty zoning change.
Several commissioners seemed to oppose the plan, citing the outpouring of neighborhood concerns. Carol Myers represents the area.
"Residents just off that corridor have the right to ask for something more than the same old for this property," Myers said. "I've heard the Green Acres neighbors very clearly this evening that they do not find this project compatible. They've discussed stormwater traffic, spot zoning and more."
"Residents just off that corridor have the right to ask for something more than the same old for this property."Carol Myers
That sentiment was echoed by District 10 Commissioner Mike Hamby.
"Every time they come to us about a different project for this particular piece of property, they always make a suggestion about what would work here for the neighborhood," Hamby said. "So it's not as though they're not saying don't build anything here, they're saying here's something that would work."
Jesse Houle, who represents District 6, says they are undecided.
"The main driver, and there's plenty of data to back this up, of our housing costs being so high here is the shortage of housing," Houle said. "So we've got to build it somewhere."
Commissioners are expected to vote on the measure on April 2.
