Representatives from the development companies proposing the Campus Edge apartment complex reassured concerned south-side Athens residents during a public hearing last night.
Increased traffic on Dairy Lane and Richland Avenue, storm water run-off and the effect of noise and sound pollution on surrounding homes and businesses are a few issues developers attempted to explain.
Developers plan to have two entrances to the complex, one on Dairy Lane and one on Richland Avenue across from University Courtyard Apartments. The entrance on Dairy Lane will only be an entrance, and residents will not be permitted to exit onto the road, said Thomas Dowdy, representative for Investment Properties of Roanoke, Va., one of two developers working on the project.
Once the complex is built, the effects of opening the entrance on Diary Lane can be discussed, he said.
Most students who live in the complex probably will use the Richland Avenue entrance, while students searching for apartments will use the Dairy Lane entrance because of its proximity to the clubhouse and leasing office, said Stephen Klee, vice president of development from PRS Companies of Georgia.
Despite the outcome of the proposed development, Mayor Ric Abel said he wants to follow through with improvements on Dairy Lane, including making the road three lanes wide. Additionally, he proposed widening Richland Avenue from 10-feet lanes to 12-feet lanes. New sidewalks also would be constructed.
Developers also assured residents that the complex would not cause soil erosion, unlike some other area apartment complexes.
"Before we go out and move a blade of dirt our main concern is erosion control," Klee said.
Increased storm water run-off and retention systems also were discussed during the hearing. Developers said although the underground retention system they have planned for the complex requires more maintenance than other systems, it does not require high maintenance.
"We're not talking about building something that will sit up on the hill and look cheap," Klee said.
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Jen Strawn
