Variances for a potential three-story replacement for the Eatonton Housing Authority’s 50-unit Hillside Apartments were approved by Eatonton City Council at its mid-month meeting Monday night.
Three variances from the county’s current zoning ordinance were necessary for the property to be eligible for a competitive grant from the Georgia Housing Authority. If successful, the award of a grant would come in November. The variances involve an increase in the height of the structure, an increase in the number of parking spaces, though still less than the ordinance’s R-3 zoning currently requires, and an increase in density.
The apartments are intended for the elderly and/ or disabled, according to AHA Director Vonda Gibson. If the grant comes through, the three-story design would house the same number of residents (50), but they would not have to be relocated during construction. The structure would have both stairs and an elevator.
The council also approved:
• The city police department’s request for up to $30,000 to install six traffic cameras at key locations. The motion-activated cameras will read license plates at a rate of 7-12 images per minute.
EPD Chief Howell Caldwell cited two recent incidents involving a suspect fleeing through multiple counties, who was arrested within 15 minutes of notification.
• Minor adjustments to the boundaries of the city’s four wards according to the 2020 census counts. Reportedly, fewer than a half-dozen people will be affected in each ward.
• The condemnation of a collapsed and burned house at 121 W. Florida St. Clear title could not be obtained because all the potential heirs could not be located or even named, according to City Attorney Chris Huskins.
“Right now, it’s just a burned pile of rubble,” he said. The property will be taken by the Eatonton Housing Authority and “just compensation” will be set aside for the heirs, who now have to take the initiative to clear the title.