Roswell council approves Hill Street townhome design amid historic‑preservation dispute

Roswell City Council on Dec. 18 approved the architectural design for 16 townhomes in the Hill Street Overlay Area A, part of the broader Hillrose Market mixed‑use redevelopment that includes a parking deck, commercial space and roughly 143 multifamily units. The motion to approve — which incorporated seven recommendations from the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) — passed 6–0.

The design review drew the meeting’s most sustained public comment. Don Horton, a longtime Roswell resident, and Judy Mir, president of the Roswell Historical Society, both said the proposed forms and rooflines do not reflect the community’s historic character and urged the council to demand revisions. “We’re slowly making it much less historic looking,” Horton said during public comment. Mir added she was “very disappointed that this never came before the HPC for us to look at and comment on before it was just approved and ready to go.”

Council supporters and staff defended the design as compatible with the overlay and necessary to screen the adjacent parking deck. Deputy City Administrator Jeff Leatherman told the council the townhomes are sited and scaled specifically to mask the deck and transition from a commercial development into nearby neighborhoods. Council Member Sarah Bon, who spoke in favor of the approval, asked the chamber to consider the existing context: “Does this look historic to you? … this trashy looking dumpster area, a mechanic shop, busted gravel lot,” she said, arguing the current site contains few historic constraints and the project replaces blighted uses.

Council Member Christine Hall noted that mansard or Second‑Empire roof elements — criticized by some speakers — can be used compatibly under the city’s design guidance and that staff and HPC recommendations were incorporated into the final motion. Council Member David Johnson moved approval of the architectural design with the HPC recommendations; Lee Hills seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

What passed: the council-approved design, as amended to include HPC suggestions, allows the developer to proceed to the formal permitting and building‑plan review process. Staff told the council these 16 “pads” are intended to create a streetscape that conceals the parking deck and supports the broader Hillrose Market investment.

What comes next: staff will work with the developer to implement the HPC recommendations during final plan review. Any subsequent design changes that fall outside the approved parameters will require additional approvals.

Note on names/spelling: the transcript contained inconsistent spellings for the planning‑commission nominee (see separate article on appointments). Article uses the form provided in the oath transcript (Robert Mayer) for that separate item.