MetLife won approval on Monday night to build a 47-acre, mixed-use development at Haynes Bridge Road and Ga. 400 in Alpharetta.
The city council voted unanimously to approve the zoning variance after hearing public comment from a half-dozen residents, who were equally split over the project.
"I'm very much impressed," resident Richard Debban said. "I think most cities in the United States would be tickled pink to have this opportunity to entertain such a development and the organization behind it."
Opponents, however, pointed to failed or stalled mixed-use developments approved in the past, one less than two miles away at Old Milton Parkway. The 90-acre Prospect Park was approved in 2005, but work stalled in 2009 after the developer cleared the site of trees and began installing utilities. The property now sits abandoned, owned by Wells Fargo. Spokesman Jay Lawrence said the bank has offered the property for sale.
Resident Jimmy Gilvin was among the opponents of the Alpharetta project and said the city was rushing to add density, possibly in concert with MARTA's plan to extend its north rail line to the North Point area near MetLife's development.
"Despite what consultants, developers and land-use attorneys may tell you, the majority of the people that live here don't want Alpharetta urbanized to attract MARTA," Gilvin said.
Council members countered objections by arguing that this was no time to stifle growth.
"It's a scary move, but it's one that works for the city," said Councilman D.C. Aiken, who obtained a verbal agreement from MetLife representative Paul Folger that the company wouldn't change its plans to accommodate apartments.
MetLife has owned the Haynes Bridge property for more than 20 years and moved its regional headquarters to the site in 1998. It occupies one of three six-story office buildings on the campus.
Plans for the rest of the property call for 40,000 square feet of restaurant space, 70,000 square feet of retail, a 211-room hotel, 447,200 square feet of office use, 546 condominiums and parking decks.
Plans also require MetLife to make various road improvements in the area, such as adding turn lanes on Haynes Bridge Road and Lakeview Parkway. Those improvements will be made as the project develops. The developer also won an extra year, until 2016, to obtain a building permit to show intent to begin construction.
"When you look at this project and you look at the people who are behind [it], this is a good project for Alpharetta," Councilman Doug DeRito said.
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