A five-acre property in northern Chamblee will soon become a large mixed-use complex despite lingering concerns from neighbors and a city councilman.
The City Council voted 3-1 Tuesday to approve most of a developer’s requests and exemptions for the Chamblee Manor development project near Peachtree Boulevard and Sexton Woods Drive.
The project will consist of 382 apartments, roughly 9,000 square feet of restaurant and commercial space and a seven-level parking garage. The residential portion of Chamblee Manor is slated to include a private courtyard, pool, clubhouse, fitness center and dog park.
The pitch by Miami-based Related Development LLC was divisive among some nearby neighbors, who worried the project’s density and resulting traffic would transform their quiet, residential area into a busy thoroughfare akin to Chamblee-Dunwoody Road.
During previous Design Review Board meetings and a public hearing, dozens of residents voiced their concerns that the project’s size would impose on existing neighborhoods and generate traffic. The developer requested more than 25 code variances and waivers, which also drew criticism.
On Tuesday, city leaders approved the majority of those variances and waivers, but denied a few variances related to the large parking deck. During the February public hearing, Councilwoman Leslie Robson called the developer’s parking deck rendering “just ugly,” adding that she hoped its design could be retooled.
Credit: City of Chamblee
Credit: City of Chamblee
Following the public feedback, the developer retracted its request the rezone the property, which wasn’t necessary to build the mixed-use project, and tweaked a couple of other details. The city also denied its waiver requesting to not have to bury overhead power lines and utilities.
The developer still needed to obtain a Development of Community Impact from the city to continue its plans. Councilman John Mesa was the sole dissenting vote Tuesday, but it’s unclear why he decided to vote against it. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reached out to him for more information.
The developer did not include a timeline for construction to begin or Chamblee Manor’s expected completion.
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