Should the City of Dacula Allow Apartments?
Revisions to the city’s planned mixed-use development ordinance would pave the way for the development of a “live, work, play” community that could include apartments.
Though a decision has not yet been made as to how exactly the property will be developed, the current concept plan shows a convention center, town green, hotels, offices and apartments.
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On Thursday, March 1, the Dacula City Council will decide whether to revise the city’s planned mixed-use development (PMUD) ordinance in order to make the city more attractive to developers.
If the revisions are approved, an investment group is expected to request that 157 acres be annexed into the city for the purpose of developing a “live, work, play” community that could include apartments. If the changes do not pass, the investment group could still proceed with their plans by going through county zoning.
Should the City of Dacula allow apartments within the city limits? If developers intend to construct apartments on the site regardless, would you prefer the city reap the tax benefits instead of Gwinnett County? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments.
City Planner Joey Murphy said the changes to PMUD essentially boil down to a couple of major changes.
“First and foremost is the decision by the city council -- do you want to allow apartment living in the city? That’s probably the biggest consideration within this ordinance,” Murphy said during last week's city council work session.
The revised ordinance would increase the maximum allowable housing density per acre from eight units to 13, the same as allowed by Gwinnett County. A maximum of 40 percent of the property could be developed as apartments after 25 percent is dedicated to open space.
Dacula City Mayor Jimmy Wilbanks explained the revisions are being considered in order to take current market conditions into account.
“Otherwise, we’ll never have anything built under the planned mixed-use district in Dacula any time in the near future,” Wilbanks said.
Linda
4:11 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
Absolutely not. The city does not need more revenue as much as we need it to stay the way it is & not grow any bigger because of traffic.
Kristi Reed
4:21 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
What if the apartments are going to built regardless? This company already owns the land. If the city does not approve the revisions, this company could go through the county zoning process and possibly get the project approved anyway. The development will still be in the same spot and will still impact traffic, the question is who exercises control over the zoning process and who gets the tax revenue. Do you think it would be better for the property to stay in the county and for the developers to go through the county zoning process or do you think it would be better if the City of Dacula was in charge of the zoning process?
Tim Sullivan
5:43 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
Better to have the city controll the zoning, that said I know commissioner Beaudreau is no real fan of appartments, probably the reason they want to be annexed into the city.
Gary Fox
8:34 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
Dacula city government PLEASE no apartments - raise the bar - condos or something equivalent.
M. Davis
8:33 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
No-No-No...No apartments please.
Mike Beaudreau
9:08 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
I see a general site plan. But without a specific site plan as part of the rezoning itself, it is hard to gain an accuarate picture of what the applicant really has in mind. That being said, my record on district 3 zonings on apartments, and land use in general is very clear. I have consistently voted to adhere to the land-use plan and in specific cases rejected apartments. This is primarily done so we can better coordinate our road plans, water/sewer infrastructure, and the like.
C. McCall
10:58 am on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
I think it would be great to have a work/play/live development in Dacula (similar to Suwanee Town Center). However, I would only be in favor if the housing was condos and town homes. Apartments almost always bring home values down. If Dacula is going to keep growing, they need to make sure it's classy, not trashy.
Andrew
12:12 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The development of this mixed use project represents a clear path to the decay of life here in Dacula. We have enough retail areas as it is. Most of which are vacant anyway. I don’t see this as being any different. Work & live? There will be no new employers here in Dacual. Apartments will only bring an undesirable element to our town and drive down the already crushed home values. We have to be smart about what we allow here in Dacula. Similar projects in neighboring towns have not demonstrated any tangible success and has not brought any greater prosperity to their respective towns. If the motivation is purely for tax revenue,, than we know the project as a whole is misguided and rooted in corruption.
R. Davis
5:11 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Rental property degrades neighborhoods just like airport noise does. Can anyone disagree with that? If not, why should this project be approved?