Lavonia P&Z Approves Rezoning of 42 Acres for Proposed Retirement Community
These are some proposed renderings of what kind of units could be built
The Lavonia Planning and Zoning Board has approved a request to rezone some property off Jones St. for a proposed multi-level retirement community.
At their meeting Monday evening, the Board voted unanimously to change 42 acres on Andrews Drive from R1-A to Medical Campus District.
At the Public Hearing during the City Council Meeting, Ned Butler, Vice President of Development for Reliant Homes told the council their vision for the 42 acres would be a retirement campus that would include 130-140 independent living units, a three-story assisted living complex, and a nursing home.
The Company would also like to see a medical office building at the front of the complex, according to Butler.
Reliant Homes is based in metro Atlanta and primarily builds single-family homes.
According to City Manager Charles Cawthon and Butler, the plan now is to market the acreage to a firm that specializes in building senior retirement communities.
Ricky Whitworth is the Director of the Housing Authority in Lavonia which has a neighborhood on Andrews Drive the proposed senior complex would backup to.
Whitworth told the Zoning Board he believes the retirement community idea is a good one and much needed.
Whitworth pointed out there is a need for quality housing for seniors in our area as our population continues to age.
Cawthon pointed out that while the zoning has been changed the actual construction on the complex is a long way off.