Multifamily Zoning could be eliminated in McDonough

The McDonough city council next meets on Monday, February 15, at 6 pm. Meetings are held at city hall and are open to the public. Attendees are required to wear facial covering and temperatures are checked upon entry. Social distancing measures, such as limiting the number of seats inside the council chambers, are in effect.

Agenda items include consideration to repeal multifamily zoning districts within the city and a rezoning request public hearing. The full agenda is available on the city website.

Multifamily Zoning Districts

The city of McDonough adopted a six-month moratorium in December 2019 on new applications for multifamily zoning. The moratorium expired before the council adopted any code changes, but the council will now consider a complete repeal of multifamily zoning districts.

Specifically, the council will consider the repeal of the following code sections:

• Section 17.40 – RM-75 multifamily residential district
• Chapter 17.44 – RTD residential townhome district
• Section 17.48 – RCD residential condominium district

If the council adopts the code changes, then no future applicant would be able to seek multifamily zoning within the city. The code changes would not apply to any property presently zoned for multifamily use or pending rezoning requests.

The council approved a RM-75 zoning request off South Point Blvd in 2019, but with fewer units than the applicant originally proposed. The project is now under construction. The city also adopted a concept plan review in 2020. Though different from the usual process, the council had to consider the plan review because of existing zoning conditions. The property is behind McDonough High School off state route 155.

Since the moratorium expired, the city received a new rezoning request for thirty-six acres. The property is located at the intersection of state route 81 and South Point Blvd. The applicant is proposing 378 units. The proposed breakdown is 50% one bedroom, 45% two bedroom and 5% three bedroom units. The council is expected to hear it in March.

Symphony Park

Separate from the above consideration to repeal zoning districts, the council will also hold a public hearing on Monday night. The request, entitled Symphony Park, was first submitted in 2019.

The Symphony Park development proposes to build 499 residential units on 107 acres. The property is located behind, or south of, the Publix at Lake Dow shopping center. The applicant, Blue River Development of Cumming, GA, is requesting a rezoning from RA-200 (residential agricultural) to the following:

• R-50 (single-family residential),
• RTD (residential townhome district), and
• RM-75 (multifamily residential).

The applicant proposes to donate 1.5 acres for a future McDonough fire station. Funds are available in SPLOST V to build a new station off McDonough Parkway, but constructing this station would be a few years in the future.

Proposed housing options include the following:

• 250 apartment units located immediately west of Travis Drive.
• 196 age-targeted single family residential lots located within the interior of the site.
• 53 townhouses located southwest of Publix at Lake Dow.

The McDonough Planning Commission recommended denial of the rezoning in October 2020. The applicant has postponed the request on several occasions since then.

Featured image shows a file photo of the Meridian at Lafayette apartments in Fayetteville.