The DeKalb Planning Commission has deferred a vote on Fuqua Development’s plan to demolish Scott Boulevard Baptist Church to make way for a mixed-use development. The is the latest setback for the developer following intense public opposition to the plan and a vote in August by the local Community Council to defer after Fuqua suddenly changed the site plan by removing a 5-story apartment building.
At last night’s meeting, Fuqua representatives returned with another plan, which now shows a new street layout. Attorneys for Fuqua acknowledged that the company needed to take the plan back to to the impacted residents and stakeholders around the property. The Planning Commission voted for a 60-day deferral so that the plan can go back to the Community Council. However, the votes by the Planning Commission and Community Council are advisory. The Scott Boulevard redevelopment is still on the agenda for the Sept. 24 Board of Commissioners meeting. That meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in Maloof Auditorium in Decatur.
The Scott Boulevard property is located across the street from Suburban Plaza, which is being redeveloped by Selig Enterprises to house a Walmart Supercenter.