Belmont Hills Zoning Request Approved

Halpern Enterprises, the developer of the proposed Belmont Hills site at the southwest corner of Atlanta and Windy Hill roads, has made a major breakthrough toward getting the project off the ground.

At Monday night's meeting, Smyrna City Council approved Halpern's request to change the layout of the proposed Belmont Hills apartment property.

The following changes proposed in August by Halpern were approved as part of the zoning request:

• Relocation of the 274 luxury multifamily units from Pod "C" to "F" (the back side of the property between the new elementary school being built and Windy Hill Road) to include the elimination of the planned parking garage and replace it with surface parking;
• Approval for the modification of the building elevations for the multifamily building;
• The re-designation of Pod “C” permitted uses from multifamily to retail, office, condominiums, and free-simple residential;
• Approval of revised internal street design to provide wider internal street lanes.

"The essence and vision of the project really haven’t changed," said Ward 3 Council Representative Teri Anulewicz. "It's only a matter of rearrangement."

Halpern representatives said they are now ready to present the finalized site plan to their architect and get started on the project.

The Belmont Hills project has been in the works for several years. In 2008, the city approved a development agreement with Halpern Enterprises for a $250 million mixed-use redevelopment of the former Belmont Hills shopping center at the corner of Atlanta and Windy Hill Roads.

Steve West, Halpern’s vice president of development, said the project was put on hold in the past few years while developers waited to see what impact the economic downturn would have on the changing real estate market.

In other news from the meeting, the Mayor and Council presented a $10,000 check to Campbell High School Educational Foundation, recognized Smyrna firefighters' service and dedication, received monthly reports from various departments within the city government, and approved the following consent agenda items.

• Approval of Health provider (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) and plans for 2013;
• Award Belmont Hills Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation to the lowest bidder meeting specifications, K. M. Davis Contracting Company, for $2,394,843.34;
• Award Terry Myers Drive Storm Sewer Project to the lowest bidder meeting specifications, D & H Construction Company, for $54,165;
• Award Laurel Springs Way Storm Sewer Project to the lowest bidder meeting specifications, K. M. Davis Contracting Company, for $109,485.