Fort Oglethorpe City Council split on two decisions concerning rezoning property off Lakeshore Cove Drive near Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School.
Harry Patel's request to rezone land on Cloud Springs Road to allow construction of a 50-bed nursing home was approved unanimously.
But that was not the case for his request to rezone a parcel purchased from Lakeshore Cove developer Ken Howell to permit construction of a $15 million 152-unit assisted living facility.
Less than a month after being granted a rezoning request that will allow his building a $20 million 320-unit complex of three-story apartments rather than single-family homes in Lakeshore Cove, Howell appeared before the council to oppose Patel's plans.
Objections raised were that the proposed assisted living facilities three three-story buildings would compromise the aesthetics and safety of existing homeowners and create traffic congestion.
Essentially the same objections were raised against both Patel's and Howell's projects when reviewed by the city's planning and zoning commission. In both instances the planning and zoning commission suggested against rezoning either plan (3-2 against Patel and 4-1 against Howell) from an R-3 to a PM designation.
But when it came time to vote on Patel's request, the same council that in April granted Howell's request by a 5-0 vote, denied Patel's request by a 4-1 margin, with only Eddie Stinnett supporting Patel's plan.