Almost 6,000 cars a day will drive to and from Selig Enterprises’ proposed downtown Athens development, according to documents it recently filed with the state.
The Atlanta company filed Development of Regional Impact forms this week with the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, a state planning agency. The commission plays an advisory role, reviewing major developments and making recommendations to local governments on whether to approve them.
The DRI says the $80 million project will bring in $2 million in sales taxes and $1,084,00 in property taxes annually. It will use 104,976 gallons of water per day and generate 2,800 tons of trash a year. The documents say Athens-Clarke County has sufficient water, sewer and landfill capacity for the development.
The development would generate 5,833 trips per day, including 289 during the morning rush hour and 525 during afternoon rush hour. “While a complete traffic analysis has not been performed at this time, it is anticipated that a new traffic signal at the Oconee Street entrance to this development will be warranted and will likely include a dedicated left turn lane for southbound traffic,” Selig told the regional commission. “There is an exsting (sic) traffic signal at the E. Broad Street entrance to this development. Furthermore, this project may necessitate the need for additional right-of-way dedication, pavement improvement, changes in traffic flow, and timing of existing signalization.”
The regional commission usually takes about a month to make a recommendation. Selig intends to file plans with Athens-Clarke County in “a few weeks,” planner Gavin Hassemer said, putting the development on track for the March 7 planning commission meeting. Selig is expected to request a variance allowing residential units on the ground floor (county law requires first floors to be commercial).
This post has been corrected.
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