Local city could approve permanent ban on new stand-alone apartment complexes

ROSWELL, Ga. — Nearly one in three people in the city of Roswell live in an apartment complex. But, the city will vote Monday on a measure banning any new apartment complexes unless they’re part of a larger mixed-use development.

Critics fear these changes will make the housing crisis even worse.

Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach spoke with Roswell’s Mayor, Kurt Wilson, about the proposed new rules.

“That doesn’t mean we’re anti-apartments, far from it,” Wilson said.

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Wilson acknowledges rising rents and the struggle to find housing and says the zoning changes would not impact any current renters or the redevelopment of existing complexes.

He also doesn’t want anyone to feel like they’re being labeled second-class citizens.

“From my perspective, they’re all the same. They’re all great residents of Roswell. It doesn’t mean can’t intentionally say how do we grow? What’s that look like?” Wilson told us.

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But opponents like Saraha Beeson say they fear the move could push out lower-income, working families.

“We’re already strapped for labor here locally, it’s going to make that even more difficult,” Beeson said.

The changes would be very similar to rules already in place in neighboring Alpharetta, where they’ve seen hugely successful mixed-use projects like Avalon.

But the council for quality growth, representing builders and developers, also urges Roswell to pause the plan.

“Not limiting housing options and provide variety of housing types… and real issue of long-term consequences this could have,” said Joseph Santoro with the council for quality growth.

The mayor says he expects many people to show up in opposition at the council meeting.

But just like the 90-day moratorium, he expects to have the votes to pass this permanently.

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