Apartment Uses Now Conditional In Canton

CANTON, GA -- The Canton City Council adopted revisions to its code that would require multi-family uses go through the public hearing process.

The Council at its March 18 meeting adopted changes to its Unified Development Code that would require these projects to be considered by the Planning Commission and elected officials for approval.

City Manager Billy Peppers previously told Patch developers will have to request these permits to move ahead with construction for any multi-family project, including those that have already been approved as part of a master plan.

The change would apply across the board in all zoning categories, which the city manager said could help in thwarting legal challenges to the changes.

• Read more about Canton's apartments here.

Several residents, mostly living in the Great Sky community, spoke out in favor of the change. They also asked the city to reject any apartments previously approved in that development's master plan.

Matthew Malhiot, who has lived in Great Sky for several years, said the community has nearly 200 signatures asking the council to prohibit apartments. Those uses, he added, would drive down the values of single family residences, thus reducing the city's income it receives from property taxes.

Another resident, Liz Hembree, stated she and others moved to Great Sky for its serene and quiet atmosphere. Allowing multi-family units to be constructed, she said, would disrupt that feeling. She also said it would be hard for the community's homeowners association to enforce the rules of regulations of people who live within the boundaries, but don't pay HOA fees.

However, for Larry Haygood, the city already has the tools it needs to fix the problem without "collateral damage."

“The conditional use permit is a tool that you don’t need," he said. Instead, Haygood said he believes the city should met with the homeowners and developers who started these communities to work out a plan before imposing broad stipulations.

Image via Shutterstock