City Council Approves Huge Roswell Road Development, Admonished by Residents

Neighbors opposed to the huge gateway development planned at Roswell Road and Windsor Parkway knew it would likely be approved by City Council on Tuesday, but before the nearly unanimous vote some scolded Council members for not including residents in the planning process. 

“We do feel like we are sacrificial lambs,” said Susan Heard, a Windsor Parkway resident. Heard advised Council members to hold town hall meetings when the next development comes along. 

Jane Kelley, who has publicly expressed concerns for residents who will lose property as a result of the project and Roswell Road/Winsdor Parkway intersection improvements, believed there was a lack of transparency by the city with developers and neighbors.

“We expected you to protect us,” said Kelley, before the vote.

Councilmember Karen Meinzen McEnerny cast the sole dissenting vote on the project. 

The 21-acre development by JLB Partners and Core Property Capital will include luxury apartments, retail, office and restaurants. The project will be anchored by Sprouts grocery store, which is said to have the feel of a farmers market.

Chastain and Versailles Apartments will be demolished for the project. 

Council members also approved a $3.7 million intersection improvement option that will cut through part of the Gallery 63 property and raze a historic church building that was approved for rezoning for Community Funeral Service, last September.

Improvements at the failing intersection are required by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority in order to receive state and federal funding for transportation projects, said assistant city manager Bryant Poole. 

Resident Jennifer Rangel explained to City Council members that she moved into her Windsor Parkway home eight months ago and will lose a portion of her property with the intersection improvements. Rangel and other residents urged Council to approve costlier intersection improvements that would uproot Popeyes restaurant instead of the church building and not cut through their property.

“It is worth the investment,” said Rangel, of an alternative that would have cost $5.7 million. 

Councilman Gabriel Sterling commented that realignment of Windsor Parkway has been discussed for five years and would be required for any redevelopment on the 21-acre project site.

City Councilman Tibby DeJulio added, “In order to improve traffic on Roswell Road there’s going to be some pain. In order to replace the apartments on Roswell Road there’s going to be some pain.” 

See also:

More Apartment Communities in Demand for Redevelopment

Op-Ed: Beware Untended Consequences of Redeveloping Sandy Springs

Op-Ed: Resident Gives Take on Gateway Expected Redevelopment at Windsor Parkway

Roswell Road Neighbors Hope to Control Density of Looming Mixed-Use Development

Roswell Road/Windsor Parkway Intersection Gets an 'F'

Impact of Huge Roswell Road Multi-Use Development Concerns Councilwoman

Funeral Home Feeling Threat of Eminent Domain by Planned Mixed-Use Luxury Apartment Project