Despite pleas from nearby residents Tuesday, the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board recommended approval of a rezoning request that would allow owners of an assisted living facility on Enota Avenue to build several new townhomes on their property.
Ashton Senior Living sits on a more-than 5 acre tract in the corner of Enota Avenue and Yonah Avenue and is currently zoned as Residential and Planned Unit Development. Owners are looking to change that zoning to strictly Planned Unit Development to allow up to 15 cottage-style townhomes.
Curtis Magill represents The 5 MCS, LLC, the company that owns the facility, and said the buildings will serve as alternative options for residents of the facility.
"They will be more like a small house upgraded," Magill said. "What I'm wanting to do is bring something that's really upscale, 10-foot ceilings, full trims, modern house, and yet look more like mountain homes like in this area."
Some residents spoke against the request, saying the additional buildings could bring unwanted traffic onto the neighborhood road.
"Riverside Drive, Yonah, and Enota Avenue are not Thompson Bridge Road and they're not South Enota," Riverside Drive resident Anne Chenault said. "Those are major roads and those assisted living facilities are well located there."
Chenault also expressed concerns with previous rezoning approvals that allowed other developments in the area like the Enota Gardens Apartments.
"All of these properties used to be single-family residences and they were zoned for single-family residences," Chenault said. "So I almost wonder why in the world do we even have zoning if they're constantly changed every time somebody wants to do something different?"
The board recommended the approval by a 5-1 vote. Board member Eddie Martin, Sr. voted against the request, and member Connie Rucker was not in attendance.
The proposal will now be heard by the Gainesville City Council at its November 7 meeting.
