A Johns Creek property owner says the rezoning of his small shopping center is necessary to maintain it as a viable business operation.
Sid Tejpaul owns the Shops of Douglas at Jones Bridge and Douglas Roads and wants to convert part of the commercial building on the site into nine apartment units. That would require a rezoning approval from commercial business district to mixed-use.
Tejpaul built the shopping center on 1.4-acres of land in 2005 with a commercial building designed to house eight businesses. Tejpaul said he’s had difficultly consistently leasing three retail spaces in the back because they can’t be easily seen by passersby.
In its current use, the property has been a financial challenge, Tejpaul said Monday. Those three retail units are currently empty and he uses one of them as his own office space, he said.
During a Sept. 7 meeting, the Planning Commission of Johns Creek denied sending a recommendation on the rezoning to City Council. Tejpaul told the AJC he plans to tweak his proposal.
Tejpaul’s original plan called for converting 3,000 square feet of space into a three-story, 40-foot-tall apartment building. But the property owner said he is willing to reduce the height.
Before the Planning Commission vote, Community Development staff recommended denying the rezoning.
The apartment units would back up to a neighborhood of single-family homes and adversely affect the homeowners’ properties, City Planner Ruchi Agarwal said, adding that the proposal doesn’t fit with the city’s comprehensive plan.
Parts of Tejpaul’s plan followed city guidelines, Agarwal said. His proposal would reduce daily traffic trips by an estimated 18% she said. And there would be no impact on nearby schools.
Homeowners said the apartments wouldn’t fit with the neighborhood. Resident Eric Conkright complained that the shopping center is currently in poor condition and said the parking spaces are too narrow to fit some vehicles.
Tejpaul said employees of businesses currently located on the property have expressed interest in leasing the new apartments.
But he could seek a deferral to appear before City Council to address all concerns.
“How do I fight City Hall?” Tejpaul said. “ This property as zoned would not have an economic value.”
He’s currently scheduled to appear before City Council on Sept. 27, Edie Damann, a Johns Creek spokesperson said via email.
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