Council defers vote on Abbington apartments
After months of meetings, Fayetteville has created a list of projects totalling as much as $25 million if a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is passed in November. The list was compiled by a citizens advisory committee and would address several pressing issues in the city.
One of the committee members, Rich Hoffman, addressed the City Council Thursday night.
“This represents needs, not wants and a SPLOST is one of the only ways to do this type of investment,” he said.
Using current projections, a four-year tax would net the city close to $14 million, a five-year tax $17 million and a six-year tax $21 million.
The Fayette County Commission is the ultimate decider on whether to place a SPLOST referendum on the November ballot and for how much. So far, the county has not taken a vote on the issue.
Projects include:
• A new fire station in West Fayetteville: $1 million.
• Five fire trucks: $3 million.
• New police vehicles: $1.1 million.
• Wastewater and water system upgrades: $7.5 million.
• A roundabout at Redwine Road and Ramah Road: $1.2 million.
• Road improvements in downtown: $3.5 million.
• A fiber optic network in government buildings: $1 million.
• Highway median landscaping: $1 million.
• Lafayette Road extension and roundabout: $2 million.
In other news, the City Council deferred a final vote on the Abbington Square project in downtown Fayetteville.
The proposal by Rea Ventures Group would establish an apartment complex called Abbington Square to house 60 apartments along with limited retail on the first floor facing North Glynn Street. The property is situated on 4.6 acres downtown, between Lafayette Avenue to the south, the 100-block of North Glynn Street to the east and a short distance from Lanier Avenue to the north.
The request for the property would have it rezoned from C-1 (commercial) to PCD (planned community development).
Plans call for 93 percent of the apartments to be one or two bedroom units. Rents will run from $640 per month to $1,200 per month. Amenties would include an art/studio space, business center, fitness center, a community garden, Energy Star appliances and washer-dryer hookups.
Thursday night, the City Council said they had received a legal letter from Rea Ventures and would have to wait until the city’s attorney gave them notice on how to proceed.
City Manager Ray Gibson said the city had received a constitutional objection letter that was being reviewed.
The city also deferred reverting the zoning for 33 townhomes on Cobblestone Boulevard, once again citing legal matters.
In the spring of 2015, the City Council voted to allow 33 detached townhouse on Cobblestone Boulevard across the street from the Cobblestone Apartment complex and rezone the 5.89 acres from C-3 (Highway Commercial) to RMF-15 (Multi-Family Residential). The most vocal opponents against allowing the development to move forward were residents of the OakBrook subdivision, who live behind the proposed development.
