Dunwoody Homeowners Association discusses controversial low-income housing proposal
The Dunwoody Homeowners Association on June 22 heard a proposal about a zoning change that would allow the construction of more than 200 age- and income-restricted apartments on Ashford Dunwoody Road – a plan that two weeks ago was thought to be dead in the water.
The board listened to a presentation by developer and property manager Dominium, detailing plans to develop a 3.42-acre parcel into 215 apartments, with 248 underground parking spaces. The site now houses a 15,700-square-foot medical office, which is owned and occupied by the LifeSouth Community Blood Center.
The units would range from one to three bedrooms, according to the plan submitted to the city. One-bedroom units would rent for $1,242 a month, while two-bedroom units would be $1,491, and three-bedroom units would top out at $1,722.
The annual income limit for one person to qualify for housing is $46,380 and rises to about $66,000 with four people.
Dominium representatives gave a similar presentation on June 10 to the Dunwoody Planning Commission and the panel deferred a decision, despite a request from Dominium for either an approval or denial of the application to rezone the site from O-I (Office Industrial) to PD (Planned Development).
“[The developers want to say that] a deferral tonight to them is the same to them as a denial” because of deadlines for Dominium to make application for federal financing, said Dunwoody Planning & Zoning Manager Paul Leonhardt.
However, when asked about the “deferral-means-denial” statement and questions about the company’s presence at the DHA meeting, attorney Julie Somer said after the June 10 meeting, company officials “were able to confirm that we could stay on track if we came back to the planning commission in July.”
During the lengthy Dunwoody Planning Commission meeting, citizens came out in force to oppose the construction of the complex, saying that the time isn’t right with the city ‘s new comprehensive plan still under consideration.
A dozen speakers who spoke in opposition to the plan also cited issues with its proximity to single-family housing, the density of the complex, the potential for traffic congestion, the limited number of parking spaces compared to the number of units, and the need for owner-occupied units within the city rather than rentals.
At the DHA meeting, Dominium Vice President Shaun Reinhardt addressed the issues brought up at the planning commission, saying that the density of the complex is comparable with other properties adjacent to the site.
“I think we are doing an okay job as far as that goes,” Reinhardt said.
Regarding parking, Reinhardt said the decision regarding the number of spaces, which would not be reserved or assigned, is based on previous developments that Dominium has built.
While both Somer and Reinhardt insisted that many Dunwoody residents would qualify to rent apartments in the proposed community, most attendees pushed back at the notion.
“You say that this will meet the needs of the Dunwoody community, but I don’t think that’s true,” said Dan Weber, a longtime resident and former state senator.
Former Dunwoody Mayor Dennis Shortal said that citizens who desire to age in place want to live in owner-occupied homes, not apartments.
“We don’t need any more apartments, we have enough of them,” Shortal said. “This [development] does not fit with what the city of Dunwoody wants as a whole.”
The city’s Development Review Committee, which includes Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton, Economic Development Director Richard McLeod, Leonhardt, Public Works Director Michael Smith, and Economic Development Director Michael Starling, had voted unanimously on April 2 to recommend approval of the application, with five conditions.
The Dunwoody Planning Commission will meet on July 8 to hear the rezoning request.
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