Neighbors squabbled over the proposed selling of city-owned vacant lots at the Cornelia City Commission meeting, held Tuesday evening. Commissioners listened as property owners in the Lakeview Heights subdivision argued over plans to sell three city-owned lots near the dam on Cornelia Reservoir, on Camp Creek Road.
Half-a-dozen home owners addressed the commission stating they would prefer that the city not sell the lots and that they remain, as is, an access point for the public to reach the lake for fishing and other activities. The center lot, of the three, includes a walking trail that the public can use to access the lake. At the current time, it is the only public access point for the reservoir.
Paulette Israel, a resident living in Lakeview Heights, addressed the Commission and said that groups of young people often park in front of the vacant lots, leaving trash and creating disturbances. Mrs. Israel reported she had called local law enforcement on several occasions to have the young people dispersed. The other property owners, including spokesperson Floyd Canup, photo below, stated they had never seen trash in the area, nor were they aware of anyone congregating or causing problems in the cul-de-sac.
The City Commission listened attentively to all the property owners and then tabled a motion to sell the city-owned property until property owners along Lakeview Heights could assemble, re-organize a community HOA, and then approach the city with other possible solutions, including buying the property. Mayor J.C. Iirby assured all concerned that a workable solution would likely be agreed upon in the near future.
In other action, the City Commission heard from Gary Hammond, owner of Land Bridge Development in Atlanta, who is seeking a rezoning of land adjacent to Cornelia Ingles Store. Currently the land is zoned for business (B-2) and the development company is seeking a multi-residential status (R-2) to build an apartment complex with eighty units. Architectural drawings showed there would be five buildings, 40% brick veneer, each with 16 units, and a community room, pool and parking for residents.
Commissioner Don Bagwell pointed out that the city welcome’s quality housing for labor workers in the area along Level Grove. “We have a problem in that many rental housing units in Cornelia are not properly maintained by actual owners, and are substandard. This company (Land Development) has a very positive track record in building and maintaining high quality homes for renters,” Commissioner Bagwell observed. Mr. Hammond went on to state that the units are not typical “government housing” as some subsidy housing has become known, but rather a mixture of residents, some receiving housing assistance, some not. He also affirmed that there would be an on-site manager and that his company has long-range plans to own, manage and maintain the property.
The Commission voted on a variety of other technical issues and the meeting was adjourned by Mayor, J.C. Irby.
