Council denies Old National townhome rezoning after residents and applicants clash over land use

The City Council voted on May 27 to deny a rezoning request that would have changed a 13.4-acre parcel off Old National Highway from commercial to townhouse residential and amended the future land-use map. The proposal, presented by the project team with a church congregation as a co-owner of some land, sought to build a 107-unit townhome community and a shared amenity area; residents and the planning staff opposed the requested land-use change.

Lede: The council denied the rezoning after public hearings that included testimony from neighborhood residents, the applicant’s attorney and church representatives. Residents argued the parcel sits in the middle of a commercial corridor the city wants to reactivate for retail and mixed uses, while the applicant emphasized infrastructure improvements and shared amenities the project would deliver.

Nut graf: The applicant argued the townhomes would provide new housing, a new pump-station upgrade for the basin and a clubhouse and pool shared with a neighboring subdivision. Opponents said the Old National corridor is designated for commercial and mixed use and that allowing a large residential enclave would undermine the corridor’s long-term commercial potential.

Applicant presentation and infrastructure offer: Michelle Battle, attorney for the developer, said the church on the adjacent property would build its planned worship building regardless of the rezoning but had agreed to provide part of its land for the residential component. The developer said it would pay for an upgraded sanitary pump station that serves Lake Royale and nearby subdivisions — a capital investment the applicant estimated at about $1.25 million — and that the project would add sidewalks, guest parking and either a walking connection or a vehicular connection to a shared amenity area with a neighboring development.

Resident opposition and land-use concerns: Multiple residents and neighborhood leaders opposed the change. Tracy Hudson told the council the proposed density “is just not compatible with the existing land use and the vision of South Fulton,” and other residents argued that converting a commercially designated Old National parcel to dense residential would eliminate chances for future retail, office and entertainment uses that could strengthen the local tax base. One resident asked where a relocated pump station would be located and pressed for clarity on vehicular and pedestrian access between neighborhoods.

Council action and rationale: Planning staff and the planning commission both recommended denial. At the council meeting, several members said they wanted more time for staff to review the new amenity arrangement and for clearer commitments about the proposed infrastructure work and pedestrian/vehicular connections. Council then voted to deny the rezoning request; the council’s clerk recorded the denial as the outcome on the motion presented.

What happens next: Because the council denied the rezoning request, the property retains its existing C-1 commercial (Old National overlay) zoning and the regional live-work land-use designation remains unchanged. The developer and church representatives said they would continue discussions with staff; staff indicated discussions could return to the planning commission or council after any changes and further review.

Ending: The council’s denial leaves the Old National corridor unchanged for now and underscores tensions between immediate residential development proposals and the council’s stated desire to support commercial revitalization along major corridors.