Developers seek 50% density increase on Puritan Lane; planning commission recommends denial amid canopy and compatibility concerns

Developers asked the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission to approve a planned development and rezone that would consolidate nine parcels into a roughly 9.5-acre site on Puritan Lane and Macon Highway, allow an increase in density from RM1 (16 beds per acre) to RM2 (24 beds per acre), and permit construction of 70 townhouse-style units.

Bruce (planning staff) told commissioners the project would also require abandonment of a short segment of Puritan Lane and a waiver of a local requirement for 25% conserved tree canopy down to 17%. He said the project includes an access easement to allow leisure services and utility staff to reach Barber Creek parkland and sewer infrastructure, and that the developer has proposed five parking spaces linked to that access. Staff and the Planning Commission both recommended denial: staff found the public benefits modest and said the project is only partially compatible with the 2023 comprehensive plan and the future land-use map.

Applicant representatives said the proposal would connect Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the developer’s nearby project, provide new pedestrian improvements and a pedestrian crossing on Macon Highway, give access and parking to a 12-acre Athens-Clarke County parcel intended for future park use, and add 70 units in an area dominated by student housing. Blake Underwood, representing the applicant, said the abandonment would remove a maintenance burden for the county and allow better access to the sewer main. Jeff Coom of Stratus Development Group and Frank Pittman of Pittman & Greer Engineering described the project as consistent with surrounding multifamily development and said topography and construction costs reduce the feasibility of building mandatory affordable units under the inclusionary zoning process.

Commissioners split on the proposal in discussion. Commissioner Culpepper and Commissioner Davenport supported upzoning this student-oriented corridor to concentrate student housing away from single-family neighborhoods and highlighted the developer’s offer to relocate historic mill houses to county-owned property for affordable-housing reuse. Other commissioners, including Commissioner Link and Commissioner Byers, voiced concern about loss of historic mill cottages and questioned adding more student housing in an area already dominated by student-oriented developments and noted traffic and transit access concerns. Commissioner Wright asked for clarification on canopy numbers; staff said the waiver request concerned conserved (existing) canopy while overall canopy with new plantings would meet code.

No final commission decision was recorded in the excerpt provided; the planning commission had recommended denial. Staff identified four conditions that would be required if the body approved the PD: corrections to the plans to address code issues; detailed design of the leisure-services access easement (follow contours, standard parking spaces, signage, sidewalk and bike rack, curb cut); a pedestrian crossing across Macon Highway meeting transportation standards; and formal abandonment of Puritan Lane with confirmation of applicant ownership before demolition permits would be issued.

Key details - Location: parcels on Puritan Lane and Macon Highway (parcel IDs cited in staff materials). - Area: roughly 9.5 acres (recombining nine parcels). - Proposal: rezone RM1 to RM2 with PD; 70 townhouse-style units; abandonment of Puritan Lane; waiver request to reduce conserved canopy from 25% to 17%. - Planning commission recommendation: deny (staff report cited modest public benefit and partial incompatibility with future land use and access). - Developer claims: provides park access, sewer maintenance access, pedestrian crossing, interconnection with Phase 1, and additional housing supply.

The commission’s next procedural steps were not recorded in the transcript excerpt.