Homeowners File Appeals Against 235-Unit Apartment Project

(Editor's note: Ralph Ellis is a resident of the 335 West Ponce condo building.)

Decatur homeowners battling a proposed 235-unit apartment complex have filed appeals with the city Zoning Board of Appeals.

The appeals, which will be heard at 7:30 p.m. May 13, said the city government didn't follow proper procedures in handlng the 315 West Ponce mixed-use development.

For instance, one of the appeals' bullet points says the "zoning administrator failed to folow the procedures established in the applicable orinances for providing public notice." Another said city ordinances are in conflict with each other. (See attached PDF to read the full appeal.)

City Planner Amanda Thompson said Thursday in an email that she doesn't know what role she'll play at the hearing since the complaints specifically question the role of the "zoning administrator." "We are working with the city attorney on that," she wrote.

planned for the large asphalt parking lot at West Ponce and Ponce de Leon Place.

The project has already been approved by the city Downtown Development Authority and doesn't have to go before the city commission.

The wording of the two appeals is identical, other than the part identifying who filed the appeals.

One was filed by 56 people living in the 335 West Ponce condo building and single-family homes around the site of the 315 West Ponce project, the other by a single homeowner on nearby Ponce de Leon Place.

Kathie Gannon, a DeKalb County Commissioner, is leading the fight for the 335 West Ponce condo building, where she lives. In an email to condo residents, she said,

"We simply want the City to follow rules that have been vetted in public. We want the residents who are living in or will be living in these downtown multiple dwelling areas to have some protections from intrusions like massive exposed parking decks. We want those who live next to this area to have an understanding of the rules. We also want our elected official to be accountable to the voters either by participating in these approval processes, not turning it over to the developers and the development staff. Ideally, the city [will] undertake the creation of a comprehensive plan for the downtown multiple dwelling area so residents, current and future will know what to expect."

On Wednesday, the developer, Carter, issued a press release officially announcing the 315 Project, though it's been discussed for months.

Conor McNally, the company's chief developerment officer, said:

“Carter is incredibly excited to be developing a Class-A mixed-use project right in our backyard,” said Conor McNally, chief development officer at Carter. “While Decatur has experienced significant population and retail growth during the last 10 years, no new apartment projects have beendelivered since 2001, which makes the timing for this project ideal.”

Other Patch stories about the 315 West Ponce project. 

• $40 million mixed-use project planned for Decatur.

• Homeowners worry about impact of big apartment project.

• Letter to Editor: The parking garage would be way too big.

• Decatur Development Authority approves 315 West Ponce project.