Oakwood City Council rejected a proposed 84-unit apartment complex that would have had rent-controlled units based on family income.Gary Hammond, of Landbridge Acquisitions, emphasized the apartments would be for the “working poor” — which he outlined as manufacturing employees, civil servants, retail workers and government employees — but several residents spoke against the development.Council officially rejected the project’s site plan on a 3-2 vote, but it also voted against a resolution of support that would have gone to the state Department of Community Affairs.Voting no on the project were Dwight Wood, Pat Jones and Sherri Millwood. Voting in favor of the project were Sam Evans and Todd Wilson.The proposed apartment complex would be on 8.71 acres. A part of the property fronts on Atlanta Highway, and the entrance would have been from there. The property is adjacent to Osborn Road, and some residents objected to the development, citing traffic and potential crime rates.Hammond explained the project would be built under a federal law that provides tax credits to the developer.He said income limits would be pegged to the area’s median income and rents based on that figure. He said the average income of renters would be between $16,000 and $34,000. Rents for the apartment would be set at $394 for a one-bedroom and $664 for a three-bedroom.He also explained that the complex would have 12 one-bedroom, 48 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom apartments.Hammond said renters would have to have a job, would be required to have a reference and would undergo a background check. He said he has been developing similar projects in Georgia for 14 years and has been in business 22 years.Denise Jordan, who said she had lived on Osborn most of her life, objected to the project primarily because of traffic concerns, but she also asked the council to require that no access be approved to Osborn.The site plan proposed had access only to Atlanta Highway.“We already have a big traffic issue,” she said, referring to Atlanta Highway.She noted Osborn is one-way in and one-way out, and development already has increased vehicle and foot traffic.She also asked for a privacy fence and “natural buffer” between the complex and Osborn. The site plan proposed a buffer, and Hammond indicated he would be willing to install a privacy fence.“We ask that you give us as much protection as you can,” Jordan said.Rodney Osborn also objected to the proposal, and he cited crime rates. Hammond said four other projects were built in Hall County under the same federal program — and they were built between 1998 and 2004.Osborn cited a recent murder in Orchard Brook Apartments in Hall County. He said council should do a “very, very close study” about crime rates in similar developments before approving Hammond’s project.
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