A proposal to annex in land into the city and to allow a change on zoning for a new residential development in Rockmart was approved unanimously by the City Council on Tuesday during a special called session.
The Rockmart City Council held public hearings on the request to allow for building on property that was formerly the Peacock Family farm, as well as acreage that the Rockmart Development Authority being sold to Artisan Built Communities to put together a new project.
286 homes are being proposed on a layout that will fill in an area between Triangle Foods and Walmart, with Felton Drive and an entry cut in onto Noland Road behind Walmart will service hundreds of new residents once the project is completed. There is no outlet planned to enter and exit the neighborhood from Brock Road.
Anne Marie Armstrong, Director of Land Acquisition for Artisan Built Communities explained to the council during the public hearing the plan will to build a variety of detached and townhome-style residences within the community. The total number will include 88 townhomes and 119 detached homes. Those homes will start at 1,234 square feet on the low end of detached houses and 1,824 square feet for townhomes.
Artisan Built Communities plans to start offering the homes in the low $300,000s range to start, but prices will be based on fair market value when they are completed.
She went over the variety of ways the development would meet the goals set forth for residential growth in the city put forth in Polk County’s strategic plan updated in recent years, and the many awards over the past years that Artisan Built Communities have won in the Metro Atlanta area for building projects.
They are currently developing projects around the region in Paulding, Gordon, Forsyth and Hall counties, per Armstrong. They’ve also already built in Dallas, Hapeville and Villa Rica. Stephen Haines of Ellijay also spoke on behalf of the project.
“When we came across Rockmart and the particular sellers of this particular property, it seemed like kind of a good marriage,” Hayes said. “We like to blend quality, and probably the biggest thing evading Americans today is affordability. That is incredibly true.”
He cited a report as well that noted one of the major factors impacting North Georgia today was the affordability of housing, which has seen increased pricing for home buyers and renters over the past decade as Metro Atlanta continues to move out in every direction with continued growth in population.
“We don’t just want to bring shelter to the area, we also try to add to the community,” he said. Hayes
Amenities will include but are not limited to a pool and clubhouse for the community to utilize.
Armstrong added on Wednesday that “We really value having amenities for families and different generations living in a neighborhood, it really pulls the community together so children and grandchildren have opportunities to enjoy time together.”
“Not a lot walkability in the existing neighborhoods. You have to currently drive to a lot of the retail around the area, and that brings an additional positive for future homeowners in the area,” she added.
Local real estate agent and contractor Lindsey Kent told the city during the public hearing on Tuesday evening the development is needed.
“I have so many children that come to me – I do have one that graduated in the Class of 2018 – and our children they are mutually connected. They all know I’m in real estate and so I do get calls from our kids,” she said. “The thing that they say to me is they would like to purchase a property. Sure. You can absolutely purchase a property. But, where would you like to go? Because there isn’t anything in Rockmart. Would you like to go to Cedartown, would you like to go to Cartersville? Would you like to go to Hiram? Where else would you like to go, because there is nothing here for me to put you in.”
Serious concerns were raised by Vivian and Emily Spinks, who live in the area and already see many of the traffic problems caused by new construction.
Emily Spinks specifically called on the council to think about the issues with the new residential development with increased traffic and in the student body at the campus.
“We’re out of room at our high school,” she said. “Our Drama closet got retired and turned into a Math classroom away from all of the other math classes… How are we going to make this progress this community needs but have it to where ‘OK. We have this growth, but lets also focus on a solution to this overcrowding at our schools’.”
She added that new student drivers in the area will also increase the risk of wrecks.
“We’ve had accidents involving students, and accidents involved with hitting students,” she said. “Are we going to find a solution, because can you imagine student drivers coming out of there and getting in wrecks? No one wants that. No one wants to see their friends get into wrecks… How are we going to deal with this with the population increase this will bring?”
Mayor Sherman Ross did provide Spinks with a direct answer: “I think all of this will be investigated.”
Laura Robinson also spoke out and had more questions than support for or against the development.
“I know we need housing, and I know we have a lot going up especially around my area on Bethlehem Road right now,” Robinson said. “The thing I have a concern about is how we are going to support this as a town with our taxes. That many homes will need extra sewer, schools, roads, fireman and all the infrastructure. Before we get into it, I think we need to understand the costs of it for our community and not the cost for those people buying the homes.”
Others included their concerns over traffic coming in and out of Felton Drive – the primary entrance and exit for the new neighborhood. Mike Garrett of Garrett Land Management – who opened an office near the opening of the new neighborhood in recent months – told the council he had serious concerns about traffic in the area.
He wanted to know specifically if an access onto Brock Road was an option if the traffic study showed concerns over the main entrance bearing too many vehicles coming off of Felton Drive, essentially right next to his business and Family Savings Credit Union.
“I believe if there was access on Brock Road it would relieve a lot of the traffic on Felton Drive,” he said. “Certain times of day with the businesses around it there is a lot going on certain times of the day.”
The council did impose some restrictions on the changes. Traffic studies do have to be completed and those have to be submitted and the Department of Transportation has to give their approval. Final staff approval with the City of Rockmart is also required, as well as improvement by the County of Noland Road, since it will become one of two neighborhood entrances.
Those conditions have to be met before the annexation becomes final. Artisan Built Communities is expected to meet with the county in the coming days to discuss the Noland Road improvement.
Check back for more on the new development as it becomes available.
Editor’s note: Usually a video would accompany such a story with the full council meeting. The video does exist, but will require additional processing since it filmed at the incorrect angle and is currently sideways. Once finished, it will be posted with this item as an update. -KtE
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