By Powell Harrison / Special

Developer Paul Ludwig of Coro Realty met at Roswell’s City Hall Wednesday June 3 with residents of Brookfield Country Club and others to discuss a development project at the corner of Hwy 92 and Hardscrabble Road. Ludwig’s current site plan proposes a mixed-use development including retail space, an institutional living care facility and 30 townhouses on Hardscrabble Road opposite Brookfield, one of the city’s largest neighborhoods.

Variances and rezoning for the project were approved by City Council May 11 by a vote of 5-1, then promptly vetoed by Mayor Jere Wood on May 14. It was only the Mayor’s second veto in 11 years.

Most of the tract, including a lake and a grove of specimen trees, is in the Parkway Village zoning district, which borders Highway 92. A city official stated privately that this portion of the plan was the best in quality ever submitted for the site. Proposed buildings, roads, and parking preserve much of the character of the lake. The half-acre tree grove is undisturbed. Many walkways and parking areas use pervious materials to allow water to sink into the ground, rather than running off.     

Yet the project requires a zoning change along Hardscrabble to permit the town homes – a 3-step change in the intensity of the land use from E2 (single family residential) to R3A (multi-family residential).

BROOKFIELD RESIDENTS DON’T WANT IT

Brookfield residents attacked the Hardscrabble townhouses vehemently, pointing out their inconsistency with the City’s comprehensive plan. 

“Hardscrabble should remain single family, large lot,” Mike Parks, a Brookfield representative, said. 

City Council will consider the Mayor’s veto on Monday, June 29, voting either to uphold or to override it. There is a third alternative – that Ludwig will modify his plan to gain the consent of Brookfield, and that the Mayor and City Council will embrace these changes.