Forest Acres zoning request withdrawn for former Carolina Children’s Home property

A zoning dispute over one of the last remaining undeveloped areas in Forest Acres has been tabled for at least a year after the developers withdrew a request to City Council.

H & M Real Estate Holdings LLC was requesting to rezone the former Carolina Children's Home property off Sunnyside Drive to allow for a commercial memory care facility. The development plans also included constructing high-end homes, which is allowed under current zoning.

The developers withdrew their application in writing July 7. The rezoning will not be discussed at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, as was scheduled. City rules will not allow the developers to apply to rezone the property for another 12 months from the date of withdrawal.

Dozens of residents had voiced concerns about the development plans, among them:

▪ A possible increased risk of flooding on their own properties due to stormwater runoff from the new development, which sits on a floodplain.

▪ Loss of a natural barrier to absorb sound and light pollution from the Beltline commercial corridor.

▪ An increase in traffic and decrease in wildlife near their homes.

The city Planning Commission twice recommended that council deny the rezoning request. Council had been scheduled to take a final vote on the issue this week.

This story was originally published July 12, 2015 at 10:09 PM with the headline "Forest Acres zoning request withdrawn for former Carolina Children’s Home property."