Commission approves slight upzoning for Macon Highway/Puritan Lane development, citing sewer capacity and relocation plan for mill houses

The Athens-Clarke County Commission voted to rezone approximately 9.49 acres along Macon Highway and Puritan Lane from RM-1 (Mixed Density Residential) to RM-2 PD (Mixed Density Residential, Planned Development) to permit an increase in multifamily density at a site near Clark and Oconee county property lines.

Developer representatives and supporters told the commission the project will add student-oriented housing in an area already dominated by multifamily buildings, activate a 12-acre county-owned parcel by providing access and parking, and relieve the county of maintenance for Puritan Lane by taking responsibility for that road’s upkeep. Proponents argued the site has sewer capacity and that the additional density would be concentrated where student housing demand already exists rather than in single-family neighborhoods.

Blake Underwood, a nearby resident who spoke at the meeting, said abandonment of Puritan Lane and added sidewalk and crossing improvements would improve connectivity and would pull student housing out of single-family neighborhoods. Jeff (last name redacted in public record), a Stratus Development Group representative, said the plan includes access and parking for a 12-acre park and relocation assistance for existing mill houses.

Frank Pittman, the civil engineer on the project, said the developer sought a plan development rather than a straight rezone in order to show a binding site plan and to request one waiver to conserved canopy (the application proposed 17% conserved canopy while pledging a total canopy of about 60% after new plantings). Planning staff recommended approval with conditions; during discussion Commissioners Culpepper and Hamby confirmed the motion included the staff-recommended conditions.

Commissioner Culpepper, who made the motion to approve, said the proposal increases density “where students are already located” and noted the developer’s offer to work with the county to relocate mill houses that can be salvaged and to provide parking and park access. Commissioner Wright asked whether staff conditions were included in the motion; Culpepper confirmed they were.

In a roll-call vote the rezoning passed 7–3. Commissioners Lee and Taylor voted no; Commissioner Fisher also voted no. The ordinance read into the record described parcels totaling about 9.49 acres at 1030, 1040, 1060 Macon Highway and neighboring parcels to be rezoned to RM-2 PD.

Planning Director Bruce Loney said the proposal included binding commitments from the developer and that any relocation of mill houses was a separate process and not contingent on approval of the rezoning. Staff said the building department had inspected the existing mill houses and identified several that could likely be moved, though some may be too deteriorated.

Commissioners asked staff to continue working with the county and the developer on relocation logistics and to track any follow-up costs or responsibilities tied to moving structures off-site. The rezoning will be administered under the terms of the approved plan development and the conditions included in the motion.