Plans for the proposed Colonial Marsh development behind Sterling Creek subdivision came to a halt Tuesday after the Richmond Hill City Council voted unanimously to deny the developer’s requests for zoning changes.
Council member Marilyn Hodges cited reasons of increased traffic flow on Harris Trail Road near Richmond Hill Middle and Richmond Hill High schools in her motion to deny the request of two zoning condition changes from Wilson Burns on behalf of the developer, RVLH-Greenland.
The requested changes would have allowed access to the property either through Sterling Creek Drive or a private road to be built on 40 feet of right of way along the Old Seaboard Coastline Railroad tracks instead of the conditions’ required 60 feet, which would also require force main and sewer lines to be moved.
“There are probably 200-300 children in the morning and afternoon that go back and forth to school and home,” Hodges added. “It’s just not safe to have an ingress and egress right there at the railroad tracks and at the schools.”
Thompson Kurrie with Atlanta-based Coleman Talley law firm spoke on the behalf of the developer at the council’s regular meeting in City Hall about the request regarding the 187.7-acre parcel of land.
He said his client would prefer to have the right of way changed to 40 feet rather than use Sterling Creek Drive, though Sterling Creek Drive was still a part of the request. Without the changes, the property is not usable, he added.
“If we can’t develop it (the property) based on what your ordinance is, then there is nothing we can do with it – and frankly we should have the right to develop this land,” Kurrie said.
Read more in the Oct. 8 edition of the News.