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Roswell councilors reopen planning for mixed-use development in Silo Grande area
Summary
Councilors discussed restarting planning and an RFP for mixed-use redevelopment of the Silo Grande area, citing flood-displaced residents and the need for housing, utilities and maps before an RFP is issued.
Roswell City Council members discussed reviving planning and possible requests for proposals (RFPs) for a mixed-use development on city-owned land in the Silo Grande area, a parcel included in the 2016 master plan.
Councilors and staff framed the item as discussion only and said they want to move the project off the shelf so it can help address housing needs created or amplified by recent flooding. Several members said the council should identify which city-owned parcels it will not sell, produce a map of current utilities and acreage, and coordinate with the infrastructure and community development committees before issuing any RFP.
The conversation covered three basic options: create a mixed-use overlay district now; use a floating or layered zone structure; or leave the current mostly low-density residential zoning in place and allow limited commercial at arterials' corners. Staff cautioned that changing zoning now is a roughly two-month process and might need revision when the city’s master plan update is completed. Several councilors said they did not want to delay action for the one- to two-year master-plan timeline and favoured preparing background materials so an RFP could be issued quickly if needed.
Council members emphasized practical constraints: the area lacks sewer, water distribution across the full site, and some internal roads would require upgrades. They also noted that the school district is weighing a potential new elementary site because of damage to other campuses and anticipated new housing demand. Councilors asked staff to assemble maps from the GIS department showing parcel ownership, current zoning and existing utilities; to find any prior design plans or developer submissions for the area; and to coordinate a joint meeting with the infrastructure committee for detailed review.
Next steps the council requested: staff return with GIS maps and an inventory of city-owned parcels and utilities, assess how much land might be held for relocation of flood-affected residents, and bring prior planning materials or developer concepts as background for an RFP. Several councilors recommended a joint workshop with infrastructure and community development committees before any zoning changes.
Ending: Council members agreed to have staff present maps and background material at the next meeting and to pursue a joint meeting with the infrastructure committee to refine RFP parameters and sequencing relative to the master-plan update.
