Tucker, GA — Rocklyn Homes is proposing to spend $20 million to build out eight acres of land at 3281 Tucker Norcross Road. Plans for Spring Valley development were detailed in a public participation meeting, held virtually on Sept. 9.

The current plan is to build 80 rental townhomes. Each 1,500-square foot unit will be three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms with a single-car garage and room for two cars to be parked in the driveway, side by side. Rent will cost approximately $2,000 per month.

Attorney for Rocklyn Homes, Dennis Webb led the presentation. Webb said Rocklyn Homes wants to modify the existing zoning condition that limits rental units to 25 percent, making Spring Valley a rent-only property. Leases will be one year, although renters typically stay longer, according to Webb.

Rocklyn Homes is requesting the change in zoning because the market has changed since the original property was titled over 15 years ago. People are choosing a different lifestyle, said Webb. He said “the missing middle” is a market in which people who can afford to own property rent instead.

“Most jurisdictions only have two types of houses: Owner occupied, single-family detached and your typical large apartment buildings. There’s just very little between,” he said. “The idea of home ownership is the American dream. It’s something I was raised on, my parents were raised on. But the folks coming up now in their late 20s and 30s in particular don’t necessarily believe in it.”

Townhomes are desirable to the market because the units are larger with private outdoor space and the property is professionally managed and maintained, Webb said. Lincoln Properties plans to manage the development, but will not have an on-site office for residents. Lincoln manages properties across metro Atlanta, including Five Oaks on Montreal Road in Tucker.

Questions from attendees were not publicly accessible, but included crime, traffic, schools and stormwater.

There is no intent to accept Section 8 vouchers at the property, said Webb.

“Those who qualify for Section 8 vouchers will not qualify to be residents here,” said Webb. “As I mentioned before, Rocklyn has the ability to accept Section 8 rental vouchers or not.”

City of Tucker requires a multi-step process for zoning changes. The applicant will next file an application with the city. City staff completes a technical analysis of the application on based on the City of Tucker Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan. This report includes a staff recommendation. Then the applicant appears before the Planning Commission where staff makes a presentation and recommendations. Finally, the applicant has two public hearings at City Council meetings.

The Tucker Observer is a new community news website owned by Decaturish.com. We provide locally sourced news about Tucker, Clarkston and Stone Mountain.

For more Tucker news, follow us on Facebook by clicking here. Follow us on Twitter by clicking here. 

Want the latest news from the Tucker Observer delivered to your inbox every morning? Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter. 

To become a paying supporter of Tucker Observer, click here.