Decatur’s commission recently deferred voting on a proposed development currently featuring 289 apartments and a 50,000 square-foot grocery, long rumored as Publix. The project received vigorous vocal opposition from DeKalb County Commissioners Kathie Gannon and Jeff Rader, both of whom spoke during the public comment portion of the April 16 city commission meeting.
It also seems to have caused, at least temporarily, division among Decatur commissioners, particularly Scott Drake and Brian Smith, who both voted against components of the project.
One surprising revelation, however, came from Heather Tell, the newest school board member. During public comment Tell said the school district has projected the development producing 51 school-age children, and she asked commissioners to “postpone” any decision on the project.
After the meeting Tell insisted she was speaking for herself only and not City Schools Decatur. It is, nevertheless, unusual for school board members to use the comment forum during city commission meetings. Additionally, earlier projections have put the number at a considerably lower 8 to 10 school-aged kids. Tell said the new projection is very recent and still “preliminary.”
Another intriguing comment was delivered by real estate broker Benjamin Pargman, who represents six landowners (there are 14 total) on the North Arcadia Drive/East Ponce de Leon Avenue site or about 3/4ths of the 9.78 acres.
Among several objections from DeKalb’s commissioners is re-zoning the site from light industrial to mixed use.
“We need our light industrial businesses,” Gannon told city commissioners. “We are losing our light industrial footprint, and this area is primed for new business.”
But Pargman said there has been virtually no interest in the area from light industrial developers.
“In five years we’ve had one serious inquiry for industrial use,” Pargamn said. “They wanted the land for a truck staging area. My clients weren’t interested in selling to that kind of business.”
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