Blake Road Development Hits Snag With Neighbors

The applicant for zoning of a proposed six-home development in the middle of Hampton Hall subdivision will have to wait another month for Alpharetta City Council to decide on its fate.

City Councilman Chris Owens, an engineer by trade, found problems with the site plan and its drainage, which he pointed out to the developer's consultant during the Monday, Sept. 26 council meeting at . Topography wouldn't allow a few of the lots to drain to the detention area, though that was required under conditions with which the applicant agreed.

After Owens pointed out that problem and others, and learning that the developer still didn't have an agreement with neighboring Waters Landing subdivision, Councilman Mike Kennedy moved to table the rezoning request.

The development plan affects neighboring Waters Landing subdivision more directly than just building houses on a hill next door. The sewer and water lines will need to be piped through Waters Landing, and the applicant bought an empty lot for that purpose.

Alannah Naber, president of the Waters Landing homeowners association, said the neighborhood already has been affected by the property.

"This is the first foreclosure in our neighborhood of 45 homes," she said.

The applicant has owned the property since 2010, but the HOA has yet to see any HOA fees paid, Naber said.

Jessica Hill, who represented the developer, said the proposed agreement with Waters Landing included payment of those HOA fees. But the applicant drew the line at spending $500 on a landscaping buffer between their lot and a neighbor's property.

"But at a certain point we have to draw a line, what is too much. The easement is entirely on the applicant's property," she said.

It's probably a moot point, as Fulton County–which owns and operates the water and sewer system–will not allow planting other than sod on an easement, said City Councilman D.C. Aiken. He was backed up on that point by Pete Sewczwicz

Robert Wood, whose home backs up to the proposed develoment, said he was unaware of the proposal before he moved into the neighborhood three years ago.

"What we are looking in on is what we call a  deer sanctuary, 12 to 15 deer up there," Wood said.

He understood the property can't be completely preserved, but wanted it to keep that character.