Mixed Use Development in Lavonia Wins Approval from City Council

The Lavonia City Council has approved the annexation and rezoning of just over 28 acres at the corner of Ross Place and Ralph Owens Parkway for a mixed-use development.

Ross Place Investments representatives first came before the Planning & Zoning Board in December to request the property be annexed into the city and then rezoned for the medical campus and R3 Residential multi-family.

At their meeting Monday evening, Mayor Umbehant said after more discussions, both sides agreed to a slight change in the rezoning application.

In their initial proposal at a Planning & Zoning meeting in December, Ross Place representative Brad Bentley said the apartment or townhome complex would be a 372-unit development to help satisfy the growing need in this area for more market-rate apartment complexes.

After hearing from Bentley, the P&Z Board recommended approval of the annexation and zoning requests.

Before the vote Monday evening City Manager Charles Cawthon went over the terms of the rezoning and conditional use agreement noting that the cell tower in the middle of the property is not allowed in an MCD-zoned area.

In their January meeting, developer Kenny Whitworth noted his company is in negotiations with the owner for the removal of the tower.

After hearing from Cawthon, the Council voted to annex the property into the city and in a separate vote to rezone the entire property into a Medical Campus District with a conditional use for a multi-family apartment or townhome complex.