The Athens-Clarke County Commission voted 7–1 at its Apr. 2 meeting to reject a proposed townhouse development near the Green Acres subdivision off Barnett Shoals Road.
The developer had offered to withdraw the proposal, which drew opposition from many nearby residents, but instead the commission voted to deny the rezoning request. That means the developer will have to wait a full 12 months to resubmit the proposal, rather than being able to reintroduce it sooner with changes that neighbors potentially might be able to accept. Commissioner Jesse Houle voted against denial, preferring to allow withdrawal instead.
Green Acres residents insisted that they recognize the parcel is difficult to build on but will eventually be developed anyway, and recognized that they’ve opposed about a half-dozen proposals for the five-acre tract over more than a decade.
“I think that [owner Green Acres Baptist Church] has an obligation to have something of a covenant with the neighborhood that provides something special for that piece of property,” former county commissioner Andy Herod said. He suggested the church sit down with residents and a different developer to “come up with a much more imaginative plan.”
While the 28 townhouses would not have added much to the county’s housing stock, Athens is in the midst of a housing crisis where construction—particularly of single-family homes for purchase—is not keeping pace with growth, driving up prices.
The commission also voted unanimously to deny a rezoning for a gas station in Winterville, near the Firefly Trail, and to approve a fraternity house on Wilkerson Street near downtown.
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