The Norcross City Council voted unanimously to deny a rezoning request at 6011 Western Hills Drive on June 1, with residents opposing the proposal due to concerns about crime, traffic, and property values.
Despite staff and the city’s citizen-led planning commission recommending approval, elected officials accepted neighbors’ opposition and committed to addressing issues in the area.
Elected officials asked City Manager Eric Johnson to coordinate a response to address crime and cleanliness issues near the extended-stay hotel and surrounding neighborhood, including any needed code enforcement and increased police presence.
The property owner applied to rezone the site from office industrial (OI) to neighborhood business (C-1) to allow a small retail store, selling household items and produce. The site has a history of code enforcement issues.
Neighbors reach consensus on rezoning
Surrounding homeowners disputed the idea that the area is a food desert, listing nearby supermarkets, food marts, and chain grocers. Neighbors also argued that most households have multiple vehicles and access to necessary transportation.
The rezoning request along Western Hills Drive is near the intersection of Norcross Tucker Road and Jimmy Carter Boulevard (SR 140) in southeast Norcross.
Paul Robinson, a nearby resident, said he worries that the site could later convert to less desirable retail once it’s rezoned. He said the city would have limited control over that shift.
“Could it transition to something else other than produce?” the neighbor said. “Seems like a small step, and it could be resold to a different person that could run a business with drug paraphernalia, video poker, you name it, the door is wide open.”
Most neighbors and elected officials agreed that a small-scale grocery store fits along a busier corridor, further from neighborhoods. One key to the council’s unanimous vote was the applicant’s failure to get community support.
Council Member Bruce Gaynor said when he first heard about the proposal, it sounded like a good idea, but he’s a “hard no.”
“This would be something that I wouldn’t mind having in my neighborhood,” Gaynor said. “But I’ve heard from the residents, and it’s clearly not something that’s wanted or needed.”
Addressing concerns about crime
After eight neighbors made a case for the community’s opposition, city officials’ focus shifted to addressing public safety concerns in southeast Norcross.
“There’s a problem when you’ve got potentially naked people wandering around and other issues at the extended-stay [hotel] there,” Gaynor said. “I think that we need to maybe pick up the patrolling in that area, if we can, or whatever else we may need to do as a council to clean up the bad actors in the neighborhood.”
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Another resident said she and her husband have watched their community face increasing challenges, including property theft, trespassing, and loitering. She also said they have invested in additional security measures.
“Our concerns include increasing crime and vandalism, more loitering and trespassing near our homes, additional traffic congestion at the main entrance and exit of our community, insufficient parking for customers and employees, safety concerns for our children, senior citizens, and families, reduced property values and neighborhood appeal,” she said.
Mayor Craig Newton said he heard neighbors’ concerns loud and clear during comments and is directing the city manager and police chief to address it.
“Deeply ingrained in your comments was a concern about crime and the cleanliness of your community,” Newton said. “That should not be a concern of any of our residents, no matter where you live here in the city of Norcross, which means we need to be as aggressive in our code enforcement and our police enforcement throughout our entire city.”
In other news:
• City officials honored the “Norcross Prayer Walkers,” Tyne Willis and Donna Glaze, and the organizers of the inaugural Norcross Porchfest, Jonathan and Kristen Corley, with proclamations.
• Council members approved on-street parallel parking along Lawrenceville, Academy, and Born streets, surrounding a recently approved downtown residential rezoning. Later, a nearby resident spoke against the measure.
