Developer seeks rezoning of 1862 Railroad Street in Statham; neighbors cite traffic and tree-canopy concerns

Jacob Sullins of Sullins Engineering presented a rezoning request on behalf of the property owner to change 1862 Railroad Street (case R2401) from Highway Business to SR1, a low-density single-family district. "This request is trying to revert a what I would consider a spot zone back to residential," Sullins said, adding the project would keep an existing home and add seven new lots with proposed conditions including two-car garages and a 2,000-square-foot minimum house size.

Owner Rob Scott described the proposal as a better fit for the neighborhood than commercial development, saying Highway Commercial zoning is more suited to larger corridors and that his plan would preserve trees where possible. "We would go in there and clear the pad, clear the septic area, and a little yard," Scott said, adding he hopes to save a significant number of mature oaks and to plant buffers along the railroad frontage.

Supporters at the public hearing urged downzoning. Resident Dwight McCormick said neighbors view returning the parcel to residential as a "gift" and said prior commercial conditions were not met when the property was zoned for a CVS in 2006. Other proponents said the site surrounds existing residential lots and that several residents back the request.

Opponents raised design, safety and canopy concerns. Longtime Broad Street resident Kurt Bogenrider urged the council to preserve the contiguous tree canopy that adjoins the city park, saying a commercial layout would worsen traffic and cut canopy near the park. Laura Gutzman and other neighbors expressed concern about adding more cars and noise near school routes and the railroad; Gutzman said, "To put seven more homes on that lot is going to increase to 14 more cars on average that I don't think that road alone can handle." Scott Owen, whose family has lived adjacent to the parcel for generations, said he wanted the land to remain as natural as possible.

Council members asked detailed questions about compatibility and enforceable conditions. Members discussed requiring side-entry garages or architectural elements (porches, stone/brick accents), minimum lot and house sizes, and buffering from railroad noise. Staff noted that zoning conditions placed on an approval become attached to the land and bind future owners. The applicant said he is willing to include several of those stipulations in a rezoning approval if the council requires them.

No final council vote on R2401 was recorded in the hearing transcript; the council completed the public hearing and moved to discussion items. The applicant reserved time to answer remaining questions after public comment.