A new development with 60 units could be coming to East Athens.
At an agenda-setting meeting on Tuesday, Athens-Clarke County commissioners heard a proposal to build the project, which would be located off Shadybrook Drive, near Lexington Road. Developers are asking commissioners for a rezoning from single-family residential to multi-family.
One of the challenges facing developers is the land’s topography. It’s hilly, with a creek running along part of the border. That makes it hard to build on, but also offers the possibility of a trail connecting to the county’s greenway trail network.
Ken Beall of Beall and Company, who prepared the site plan, says the lay of the land encourages the preservation of greenspace.
"From [the proposed development site] down to the Creek and beyond is all mature hardwoods and beautiful and certainly worth saving," Beall told commissioners.
That was a sentiment echoed by Ronny Kittle, who owns the land. Kittle said the new zoning gives builders more flexibility to work around the trees.
"We wanted to make it 60 cottages - houses - and want to be able to move the houses left or right 15 [or] 20 feet either way, if we can save a tree here or there.
District 2 Commissioner Melissa Link seemed supportive of the idea, saying, "This is a gorgeous piece of property. I've actually walked it once upon a time, and it's really beautiful. That stream has kind of rocky little waterfalls and stuff, and I know there's been an intention to develop it into appropriate housing for a while."
The proposed zoning change offers advantages all around, said County Planning Director Bruce Lonnee.
The zoning change, "allows the flexibility to not have to do lots, to concentrate your development," he said. "You can really get density in a smaller spot and minimize your footprint, and that's really to the advantage of everybody.
Commissioners will take more public comment on the plan at a meeting on September 3, with a vote expected on that date as well.
