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Residents urge council to curb downtown apartments, cite traffic and stormwater concerns
Summary
Residents at a Norcross City public hearing urged the council to deny or alter proposed developments, citing stormwater runoff, building mass incompatible with the historic neighborhood, traffic impacts and limited public engagement on the comprehensive plan update.
Dozens of residents used the public-comment portion of the Norcross City Council meeting to press the council to slow or alter proposed development downtown and in nearby neighborhoods.
Joe Beach of 29 Court urged the council to consider the scale of new apartment projects downtown and insisted Norcross already has sufficient multifamily housing. "The historic Norcross has plenty of apartments," Beach said. Multiple speakers, including Brandy Hogan of 486 Sunset Drive and Mary Hazel of 756 Sunset Drive, said new apartment buildings would strain traffic and public services, erode the town's walkable character and reduce long-term property upkeep.
An unnamed resident speaking about the Howington property said the "house size and mass is not in character with the rest of the neighborhood" and tied that massing to increased stormwater runoff. Several commenters asked the council to deny the project or enforce historic design guidelines, and said stormwater engineering should be addressed during permitting rather than at the architectural-review stage.
Speakers also urged the council to slow the comprehensive-plan amendment process and provide clearer graphics showing transitions from higher-density to lower-density zones. One commenter noted the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) have reviewed aspects of the plan and that DCA's recommendations may require further public hearings.
The council did not announce immediate changes to the plan during the meeting; staff warned that DCA recommendations could require additional public hearings.
The public-comment segment closed after residents from multiple neighborhoods urged more outreach, clearer graphics in plan materials and closer attention to traffic, drainage and compatibility with historic districts.
