Around 900 signatures on two petitions sealed fate of this proposed Columbus development
A rezoning request for a proposed development on Macon Road was denied by the Planning Advisory Commission Wednesday after hundreds of residents petitioned against it.
Over 900 residents in the area signed two petitions that were submitted to the planning department. The residents, representing several subdivisions near the 5201 Macon Road site, organized to stop the development because they were concerned about increased traffic and a high number of rental units.
“This just shows that if people will speak up for a common cause, our government will listen,” said resident Karen Gaskins. “Hopefully, this will encourage and empower people to get involved.”
Who was planning this Columbus development?
Proterra Development, an Atlanta-based company, brought this development forward previously. But the firm delayed rezoning after a community meeting in March and reworked the site plan to try to address problems raised at that meeting.
The new plan decreased housing units from 670 to 476, developer Carlos Arenas told the Ledger-Enquirer, reducing the density by around 35%.
Other changes to the plan converted most of the housing into single-family homes and townhouses. A planned senior apartment building and all the commercial space previously planned were completely removed.
Proterra listened to the residents’ concerns and believed they were addressed in the new site plan, Arenas previously told the Ledger-Enquirer.
But Keith Parker, a resident representing the Farmington neighborhood at the Planning Advisory Commission meeting, disagreed.
“They listened,” Parker said during the meeting. “But they did not hear us. We are opposed to the rezoning.”
Residents remained concerned about the increased traffic in their neighborhoods and that changing the zoning from single family residential to planned unit development would allow for commercial space in the future.
A planned unit development built directly across the street from his community of Chatham Woods would have a severe impact, resident Greg Foster said during Wednesday’s meeting.
“And I will tell you why,” Foster said. “(Planned unit developments) grow.”
He presented information from the National Association of Realtors detailing how these developments can become “small cities unto themselves.”
Foster learned about planned unit developments while researching online, and it made him firmly opposed to changing the zoning, he told the Ledger-Enquirer.
“I don’t think it helps the neighborhoods at all,” Foster said. “I think it harms them.”
The organization of the neighborhoods worked well over the past few months, Foster said, and he looks forward to seeing more collaboration in the future.
Before the planning meeting, some of his neighbors were worried the commission’s decision wouldn’t go their way, he said. They informed him they would move out of the neighborhood if the zoning was changed, Foster said.
“But there was a feeling that we could win this if we stay vigilant and work together,” he said.
After representatives from the neighborhoods spoke out against the rezoning request during the PAC meeting, Ralph King, who sits on the commission, made a motion to deny the request.
The room, which was standing room only, broke out in cheers and the crowd gave a standing ovation even before the commission officially voted to deny the request.
“It was electric,” Gaskins said.
Their organizing isn’t expected to end here, Gaskins and Foster said.
Foster’s neighborhood is already planning to host a yard sale to raise money to create an official homeowners association and secure legal representation to help residents with other issues. He also hopes to see the creation of a greater neighborhood association, with all of the area’s neighborhoods represented.
The community is close-knit, Gaskins said, and regularly comes together to help one another. Neighbors worked together following last week’s storm to get a fallen tree out of a local road, ensured that their elderly neighbors were checked on, and made sure others who needed help were assisted.
“We help each other,” Gaskins said. “We do life together.”
