Dunwoody Planning Commission shocks attendees with 4-1 approval of low-income, senior housing apartments
The Dunwoody Planning Commission at its July 8 meeting voted 4-1 to approve rezoning that would allow the construction of a low-income, over-55 apartment complex along one of the city’s most congested roads.
The approval came with five conditions, including the development of a landscaping plan, the installation of a multi-purpose trail, and the stipulation that the development is consistent with Federal Fair Housing regulations.
The majority of the 75 or so attendees at the meeting expressed deep disappointment in the decision.
“This is not a community anymore,” said former State Rep. Dan Weber, who was one of the driving forces behind the effort to incorporate the city. “It’s run by developers and the city staff who don’t want to listen to the people.”
Susan Mitchell, a long-term resident who opposes the development, said it was “disappointing and baffling that the planning commission is recommending this rezoning.”
“I am confident, however, our city council will agree with the judgment of their constituents that the best land use for this property is low-density housing for those desiring to make a long-term commitment to Dunwoody,” Mitchell said.
The property under consideration, at 4891 Ashford Dunwoody Rd,. is a 3.42 acre parcel located at the intersection of Ashford Center Parkway. It now contains a 15,700-square-foot medical office, which is owned and occupied by LifeSouth Community Blood Center.
Dominium, a property management and development company, requested to rezone the property from O-I (Office Industrial) to PD (Planned Development) to allow the site to be redeveloped into an age-restricted, income-restricted housing community with 220 rental units, with an approximate 240-space underground parking garage, and eight surface visitor parking spaces.
The commission had deferred a decision on the rezoning at its June meeting after a two-hour session that saw many attendees speak in opposition.
Related:
• Dunwoody Homeowners Association will not support low-income housing rezoning
• Dunwoody Planning Commission defers decision on low-income housing
As with the June meeting, Dunwoody citizens came out in force to oppose the development, although one speaker voiced her support for the project.
The speakers 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.
“It’s not that we don’t want senior housing, we just don’t want it here,” said 29-year resident Dan Lashinsky, pointing to the site, which is located across the street from city hall.
Other residents echoed Lashinsky’s concerns, saying the development would be too dense, be built on a small footprint, and add further congestion to an already clogged artery.
As part of the revised application, Dominium submitted a letter to the council and staff that addressed “some incorrect information circulating in the community.”
In the letter and during the meeting, Dominium representatives argued that the development adheres to the city’s current comprehensive plan and is surrounded by office buildings and other residences that have much higher density. They also commented that the opposition to the senior apartments is more of a difference of opinion than a fact-based position.
“We know that there are a lot of folks here tonight that don’t want this kind of community here,” said attorney Julie Sellers. “But you don’t vote on opinions, you vote on facts. We have satisfied the criteria that the city has requested. This is a service and a use that is needed.”
Sellers and Dominium Vice President Shaun Rhinehardt also commented that opponents have spread incorrect information at various meetings regarding income requirements for prospective residents and the possibility that children may be allowed to live in the development.
“Children will not be living in the apartments and [the development] will have zero impact on schools,” Rhinehardt said.
The commission had heard the request at its June 10 meeting but voted to defer the proposal, citing the concerns raised at the meeting.
The Dunwoody Homeowners Association on June 22 during its executive session after Dominium’s presentation, entertained a motion to support, with conditions, the development, but it failed. A motion to oppose the development was passed by the executive board. At the July meeting, DHA President Tim Brown, during public comment, reiterated the board’s opposition to the proposal.
The dissenting vote was cast by Dunwoody Planning Commission Chair Thomas O’Brien.
In other action, the panel 4-1 voted to recommend an application from Zaxby’s to rezone a property at 125 Perimeter Center West in order to allow for the construction of a double-drive through restaurant.
Attorney Kathy Zickert, representing the owners, said the plan would be revised to have a larger “stack” for the drive-lanes and a reduction of the square footage from 4,000 to 3, 000 square feet. The commission approved the application with four conditions that reflected the revisions discussed by Zickert at the meeting.
Both rezoning requests will now move to the Dunwoody City Council for consideration.
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