A developer has plans to bring 24 townhomes to Baldwin within a year. The Baldwin City Council voted in favor of the first reading of an amended zoning ordinance that would allow the construction of townhomes at Willingham Avenue and Traditions Drive.
The property, owned by V&F Constructions, has been zoned by the city as a neighborhood commercial (NC) district. An NC district zones an area for small businesses, convenience stores, and public spaces. This type of zoning provides “convenience goods and services […] to developed or developing residential areas” and provides “more rural areas with convenience goods and services,” according to Baldwin’s zoning ordinance.
If it passes its second reading, this amendment will change the property’s zoning to multi-family residential, which is used for high-density, multi-family housing.
The council voted to accept the zoning change on the conditions that the developer produces a building within one year and limits the development to 24 townhomes. If V&F Constructions does not make the progress on the site agreed to, the property will return to NC district zoning.
The sole council member in opposition to this zoning change was Councilwoman Stephanie Almagno, who expressed concern that the zoning change wouldn’t meet the city’s or citizen’s needs.
“One of the things that bothers me is that this side of Willingham is a food desert,” Almagno said during their Monday night meeting. “Folks who don’t have a car have a long way to go, even just to walk to Dollar General, which has no fresh produce.”
Almagno stood by keeping the zoning as neighborhood commercial to bring businesses that Baldwin citizens need in the council’s goal to develop the City of Baldwin. Councilwoman Alice Venter was concerned that businesses that may come to the area wouldn’t meet aesthetic standards.
“What I worry about– and this may offend people, and I’m sorry if it does– but all down, Willingham and down towards Cornelia looks horrible,” Venter said at the meeting. “It looks awful, it’s not nice, it’s not nice businesses, and I’m just wondering if we have a neighborhood commercial thing there, is it going to end up looking like the rest of it?”
Councilwoman Venter and V&F Constructions both advocated that developing the area with these townhomes would bring in businesses to Baldwin.
Councilman Maarten Venter made the motion to accept the first reading of the ordinance, Councilman Theron Ayers seconded. The city will consider a final version of the ordinance amendment at the end of the month.
