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Council approves rezoning on Atlanta Highway for rental cottages; conditions limit units and parking
Summary
A rezoning of a 2.39-acre parcel at Atlanta Highway was approved to allow detached rental cottages; planning board amended conditions to limit the project to 14 units and 32 parking spaces. Council and staff emphasized property maintenance and trash removal.
The Gainesville Mayor and Council voted unanimously to rezone a 2.39-acre tract southwest of the Atlanta Highway and Ray Street intersection (referred to as 0 Atlanta Highway SW) from light industrial to Residential 2 to permit detached rental cottages.
Planning staff described a concept plan that showed 14 detached rental cottages (the applicant originally sought up to 15), each about 1,250 square feet, with common green space, rear patios and parking. Access is planned from Wood Avenue, a county gravel road that the applicant must improve. The planning department and planning and appeals board recommended approval with six conditions; the planning and appeals board amended condition 2 to limit the project to a maximum of 14 units and to cap parking at a maximum of 32 spaces (the concept plan originally showed up to 62 parking spaces).
Applicant Phil DeVries said the owner and developer intend to offer modestly sized rental units with lower rents and longer tenancies. "What they're trying to do is come up with a a right size on these houses as far as square foot and keep the rental bridal, like, less than a certain amount," DeVries said.
Council members raised concerns about existing trash and property maintenance at the adjacent retail center that fronts Atlanta Highway; one councilmember who visited the site said he was "not impressed with the way this property is kept up" and urged the applicant to ensure the area is cleaned and maintained. Staff said code enforcement would monitor compliance and that applicants must coordinate roadway improvements and other conditions prior to permitting.
The council approved the rezoning with six conditions; the motion passed unanimously.
