Sandy Springs approves zoning for new Mercedes Benz HQ

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Neighbors renewed their fight Tuesday night to stop a massive development around area set for the news Mercedes Benz headquarters.
 
The developer of Ashton Woods wants to buy the land to develop high density housing, totaling about 1,200 units.
 
It also wants to sell a portion of the land to Mercedes for its corporate headquarters.
 
But Ashton Woods needed Sandy Springs to rezone the land and some neighbors fought them.
 
"Mercedes Benz, welcome to our neighborhood. Ashton Woods, go away. Go far away. We're really not interested," said Erlene Edelman.
 
Neighbors dressed in the traditional opposition red expressed their real desire to see Mercedes Benz move its North American Headquarters to Sandy Springs, but they also expressed their real desire to see developer Ashton Woods go somewhere else.
 
The problem is they are a two-package deal, much to the neighbors' dismay.
 
"Mercedes is certainly a welcomed partner. Ashton Woods on the other hand is not," Stacy Holland said.
 
Ashton Woods needed Sandy Springs City Council to rezone the big stretch of property on Abernathy Road at Glenridge Road.
 
It wants to put in 1,200 housing units, some townhomes, some condos and some apartments. It also wants to sell a parcel to Mercedes for its headquarters.
 
While some City Council members expressed concerns about traffic congestion, they thought Mercedes headquarters located there trumped everything.
 
With a 5-1 vote, the land was rezoned
 
After the vote, Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul told Channel 2's Richard Elliot, this deal is a pretty good one for the city.
 
"It's the lowest-density, the lowest-impact project that was proposed. And yeah, I'd love to see it stay as it was, but that's not really an option," Paul said.
 
Ashton Woods also agreed to build the city a 14-acre park on the land too.
 
While the City Council voted for the development Tuesday night, it still may not be a done deal.

Some opponents have vowed to fight on in court.

WSBTV