DEMOREST — The Demorest City Council approved a preliminary plat for a Blue Ridge Avenue redevelopment project and advanced a proposed rezoning for a new subdivision during its meeting Tuesday night.
Council members also unanimously approved several agreements tied to the city’s fire services consolidation with Habersham County.
Blue Ridge Avenue redevelopment approved
The council approved without objection a preliminary plat for property at 133 Blue Ridge Ave., a site city officials say has long been a code enforcement concern.
City Manager Mark Musselwhite said the property currently contains two dilapidated homes that are expected to be demolished to make way for three new single-family houses.
“This property has been one of the code enforcement’s properties that they’ve been dealing with with two dilapidated houses on this property,” Musselwhite said during the work session.
The proposal combines several existing lots to create three buildable parcels that meet current zoning requirements.
“There’s the first plat that you’ll come to that will show the three new single-family homes they plan on constructing there,” Musselwhite said. “Basically it’s five lots, and in turning these into three lots … those lots are being combined into three.”
Musselwhite said the property is under contract and the sale is expected to close in March, after which the structures would be demolished and new homes built.
“That puts it back on a much higher tax basis than what’s been sitting there,” he said.
City Attorney Thomas Mitchell said the property owner began cleaning up the site soon after the city issued code enforcement citations.
“So soon after we cited these properties, the owner put them under contract, and the real estate agent and owner have been working with the city,” Mitchell said.
“One of the requirements in the original order had been that they either demolish or sell the properties, and so they’ve been working on sale, and it looks like that’s finally coming to fruition.”
Mayor Jerry Harkness noted that staff recommended the council move forward with the plat.
Property owner BJ Mann told the council an existing structure currently encroaches on a neighboring property line, an issue that will have to be addressed by a future owner.
“That’s the case regardless of what happens here today,” Mann said. “Whoever owns that property in the future is going to have to address that with the neighboring property owner.”
Charter amendment moves forward
Council members also unanimously approved the first reading of a home rule ordinance that would amend Section 2.21 of the city charter regarding quorum and voting requirements.
Mitchell said the change is designed to allow the city to continue conducting business if council membership temporarily falls below the number normally required to establish a quorum.
Under the proposal, remaining elected officials could constitute a quorum, and a majority of those present could conduct business. In those circumstances, the mayor could vote if needed to form a majority.
“This is only first reading,” Mitchell said. “We’ll have to advertise this for three consecutive weeks before the next meeting, and then you all can adopt it.”
Fire consolidation agreements approved
Council members also unanimously approved several agreements related to the consolidation of Demorest’s fire services with Habersham County.
The actions included approval of an intergovernmental agreement for the county to lease the city’s fire station and a lease agreement for an E-One pumper truck.
City Manager Mark Musselwhite said the fire station lease provides the city with a $30,000 annual credit, while the county will purchase the pumper truck over five years with credits totaling $450,000.
“The truck is free and clear,” Musselwhite said, noting the city still carries insurance on the apparatus while it remains in its possession.
The agreements factor into the city’s quarterly payments to the county under the fire services arrangement.
Musselwhite said the consolidation has already resulted in greater staffing and equipment presence at the Demorest station.
“If you haven’t ridden by, go by, drive around the back,” he said. “It’s just more firefighters than we’ve ever had being there.”
Habersham County Fire Chief Jeff Adams will provide the city with monthly reports on operations, Musselwhite said.
Rezoning hearing held for Saluda Drive subdivision
The council also held a public hearing on a request from McCain Investment Properties LLC to rezone approximately 10.74 acres off Saluda Drive from agricultural to R-2 residential.
If approved, the rezoning would allow a 34-lot single-family subdivision behind the existing Hancock Meadows development.
Mitchell said the request had been properly advertised and noticed.
Musselwhite said the development would include 34 single-family homes at a density of about 3.16 units per acre.
The developer is requesting R-2 zoning because existing lots in the area are about 6,000 square feet and do not meet the 10,000-square-foot minimum required under R-1 zoning.
The city’s review concluded the proposal is consistent with surrounding land uses and supports the city’s housing objectives, Musselwhite said.
“Based on the review, the request is consistent with adjacent land uses, supports the city housing objectives and promotes orderly growth,” he said.
Attorney Matt Benson, representing McCain Investment Properties, told the council the project would consist only of single-family homes despite the R-2 classification.
“These are not town homes, these are not condominiums, these are not apartments,” Benson said. “Nor would your staff allow those to be constructed under a zoning of R-2 for this particular piece of property.”
Benson said the proposed density is about half of what R-2 zoning would allow and aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan for development in the suburban transition area.
“You’re considering how this property can be developed tonight, not whether it will be developed,” Benson said.
Council members did not take final action on the rezoning Tuesday night. The request is expected to return for further consideration after the public hearing process.
