Planning Commission Recommends Denial Of Etowah Terrace Rezoning
A rezoning request for property along Etowah Terrace in south Rome has again been denied by the Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission.
About two dozen local residents showed up at the Planning Commission meeting on Thursday to voice their opinions concerning the rezoning request.
The South Rome Redevelopment Agency (SRRA) has requested that more than five acres along Etowah Terrace be rezoned from High Density Traditional Residential (H-TR) and Community Commercial (C-C) to Urban Mixed Use (UMU) for office and multi-family residential units.
SRRA, in conjunction with Mercy Housing Southeast, has proposed for the property the construction of a $10.5 million housing development targeting mainly seniors.
Supporters of the project propose a redevelopment that would help assure a safe quality of life for senior adults as well as an enhancement for the entire neighborhood.
Floyd County’s percentage of senior adults is at 13.9% compared to the state’s 9.6%.\
Opponents of the rezoning request contend that the expensive project has been rushed through governmental processes, possibly even illegally, and that the project would be a detriment rather than an asset to the community.
Last month, a complaint for declaratory judgment, appeal of rezoning and equitable relief was filed in Floyd County Superior Court listing the city of Rome, Mercy Housing Southeast, SRRA and the South Rome Redevelopment Corporation (SRRC) as defendants.
Randolph Michael, Wanda Michael, Save Etowah Terrace (SET) and the Mount Aventine Community Association are plaintiffs for the complaint which revolve around the proceedings concerning the rezoning request of the Etowah Terrace property.
The request has already appeared before the Planning Commission earlier this year with a unanimous recommendation of denial to the Rome City Commission.
The rezoning request was then approved by the city commission.
After the complaint for declaratory judgment was filed, the city’s attorneys recommended that the process be repeated because some decisions or procedures followed earlier by the planning commission or city commission may prove to be null or void.
Opponents raise the question of the legality of considering the rezoning request more than once in a six-month period, which goes against ULDC (Unified Land Development Code) law.
The city’s attorneys, however, contend that the proceedings are legal.
The Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission on Thursday voted 6-2 to again recommend denial of the rezoning request to the Rome City Commission.
Local residents crowd City Hall Thursday afternoon for the rezoning request for Etowah Terrace property. Staff Photo by Dawn Treglown.
