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Developer proposes 66-acre mixed-use project on Old National Highway; residents press questions on buffers and traffic
Summary
BVI Development Group described plans for a mixed-use complex near Old National Highway in South Fulton — including hotels, retail, offices and housing — and estimated as many as 3,800 hotel rooms, 1,500 apartment units and $80–$100 million in tax revenue; residents pressed the team on creek buffers, traffic and housing detail.
Monty Garside, speaking for BVI Development Group, laid out a proposal to rezone roughly 66 acres along Old National Highway to allow a mixed-use development with hotels, restaurants, commercial offices and residential housing.
Garside said the project team received “positive determination” findings from the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Regional Transit Authority and described interest from major hotel partners. “We have commitments from the Hyatt, from the Hilton, from Hard Rock,” Garside said, and later estimated “3,800 rooms” across the hotel partners. He also said the development would include an apartment building “1,500 units” and a condominium/retail building.
On economic impact, Garside told the meeting, “we estimate that at the very least, this project will generate, at least 10,000 jobs, both in the construction and in the operation of the development once it's completed.” He added a projected tax-revenue range: “between 80 and $100,000,000 in tax revenue that will come to the area as a result of this project.”
Residents and other attendees pressed the applicant on multiple issues. Will Allen Reynolds, who said he lives near the site, asked for hotel brand and room-count details, convention-space projections and building heights. Garside said hotel heights were reduced to about 15 stories after discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration and city reviewers.
A recurring point of concern was a mapped creek and the project’s request for a concurrent variance to encroach into buffers. A questioner asked whether the proposal would violate a municipal creek buffer. Staff replied the application, once complete, would be reviewed against regulations and any changes would need to go through the council. The applicant’s team said historical maps show an old creek, but more recent mapping and an engineering review indicate the mapped channel is not present on current maps; project staff said they engaged an engineer to confirm the absence and that ARC had reviewed the plan for feasibility.
The applicant described circulation plans intended to disperse traffic, including multiple entrances from Burdett Road, Old National and Sheriff Road, and said a traffic study would be presented at the August public participation meeting. The team also described site features the applicant called sustainable infrastructure (energy and water treatment), a food hall and a restaurant district adjacent to parking and hotel structures.
Staff emphasized the project remains at an early stage: required public participation documents are due in August and planning commission and city council public hearings are set for August 19 and Sept. 8, respectively. Staff said the concurrent variance and any proposed changes to overlay district regulations will be evaluated through the formal review process and through council consideration.
Next steps: the applicant will present fuller designs and technical reports at the scheduled public participation meeting in August and the formal hearings at the planning commission and city council.
