LAST WEEK: SHOULD DOWNTOWN FAYETTEVILLE ALLOW NEW APARTMENTS?
There is still no resolution to the question of whether the city of Fayetteville will allow a 60-unit apartment complex to be built near its historic downtown square. A vote on the rezoning request from Rea Ventures Group has been postponed for a second time because of legal questions surrounding the matter.
At Thursday’s heavily-attended City Council meeting, Mayor Edward Johnson read a statement recommending that the rezoning proposal be tabled until the July 7 council meeting because of several factors that need to be resolved in consultation with the county attorney.
Among the reasons Johnson gave was that the size of the 4.92-acre tract is below the required five-acre minimum for a planned community development designation. Johnson also noted that access to the development would be from Lafayette Avenue, which does not have – and would require state Department of Transportation approval to install – a traffic light onto Ga. Hwy. 85. Limited off-street parking and plans for only a small amount commercial space within the development were also cited.
Johnson said the city attorney will have “an opportunity to work with the applicant to develop an acceptable plan” that may or may not result in approval. The mayor’s proposal was approved 4-0-0, with Kathaleen Brewer absent.
We asked residents what they thought of the plan to bring more mixed-use residential and commercial development to the area.
Here are some replies:
As a Fayette County homeowner, I am not in favor of building more apartments. The infrastructure does not support the amount of traffic and other issues that exist from such population growth. — Sheralyn Hector
Absolutely NOT! The director of community development does not reside in Fayetteville or Fayette County. Maybe the city should require [that] he and his family live here. He has no stake in the future of this city. — Norma Shierling
— Jill Howard Church for the AJC
After Johns Creek residents complained about late-night music coming out of the 37 Main Rock Café at 6000 Medlock Bridge Parkway, the city began working on a noise amendment to its nuisance ordinance.
According to the 37 Main Johns Creek website, the café opened in May 2014 as a restaurant, bar and music venue. Its concert hall and dance club have a capacity of 900.
Bands play Friday and Saturday nights and sometimes midweek. The AJC reported Wednesday that it has all the necessary permits to operate as a music venue.
Still, neighbors have filed 39 complaints with the police in the last two years. Music can be heard in a nearby area of single-family homes starting at 10 p.m.
“You can hear the thunder, you can hear the pounding of the music,” neighbor Rick Shay said.
“We don’t want unhappy people back there at all, but we are trying to run a business,” said Chantelle Knuycky, general manager of 37 Main.
A committee of residents and businesses is working on a draft noise rule. One version, reviewed by the City Council on June 6, would use decibel readings to limit the level of music and amplified sound, audible in a residential area, certain hours of the day.
It also would limit the hours of use of other outside noise generators, like lawn mowers.
“We’re looking at it across the board, from lawn maintenance to barking dogs, across the spectrum of noise,” Johns Creek spokesman Jeff Breslau said. “We have to take all factors into consideration. We don’t want to base this ordinance on one incident.”
The Council is expected to take action in late July.
On the one hand, residents hope for some peace and quiet. On the other hand, legitimate businesses worry about their future in the community. Tell us what you think. Send comments to communitynews@ajc.com
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