It was a long time coming, but in the end Senoia City Council Dec. 1 denied the Rockaway Road annexation and rezoning request by Bogee Development, LLC that would have relocated their company headquarters to the 4 acre site that is surrounded by city limits on the east, west and south. Council members voted unanimously to deny the application.

It was the second trip to the council for Bogee co-owners Jason Rogers and Josh Hall. The council previously sent the proposal to the city’s planning commission, where it was recommended for denial by a 4-1 vote. Coming back to the council Dec. 1, applicants and representatives from neighboring subdivisions also had their say.

Addressing the council, Rogers gave an overview of the project that had been presented on prior occasions. He said the company chose Senoia to relocate their Jackson-headquartered commercial construction business closer to their homes in Fayette County. Rogers said plans included an office building totaling approximately 14,000 square feet that would have the look of a large two-story home. Rogers said the first floor of the building would accommodate the company office while the second floor could be used as meeting space for community events. He said the building’s design was planned specifically to have to look of a large home to blend in with surrounding homes. Rogers said the office would employ 6 or 7 persons. Bogee is a firm that builds public schools and school additions.

Bogee representatives said tentative future plans include construction of two 6,000 square-foot office buildings for up to four tenants such as attorneys or dentists.

“The biggest thing we’ve been told is that this (project) goes against the (Comprehensive) plan. Many times plans change when options are presented,” Rogers said in his remarks to the council. “We’ve heard the what-ifs and the horror stories about past developers. The fact is we chose Senoia because we like the community. We live in Fayette County and our company has been in business for 22 years. And we don’t rely on the real estate market.”

Rogers noted the need to improve the property, a point that had been reiterated by area residents at previous meetings. Referencing a main sticking point also expressed by some neighbors at earlier meetings, Rogers said increases in traffic that would result from the presence of their development, including renting the meeting room out for community events, would not be as significant as the addition of 300-350 homes and the accompanying vehicular traffic using Rockaway Road once Phase II of Heritage Point is in place in coming years.

Completing his remarks, Rogers said the facts are that his development would enhance property values and that the project would conform with the Comp Plan’s stated goal of bringing white-collar jobs and aesthetically pleasing development to the city.

Comments from neighboring subdivisions followed Rogers’ remarks. Far and away the main speaker was Heritage Point representative Don Rehman, who had spoken at each of the previous meetings on the project. Rehman provided council members with a six-page summary of objections to the project. He opened his remarks with what he called the “bottom line.” His remarks reflected past positions taken by representatives of both Heritage Point and Twin Lakes subdivisions.

“There are at least 2 subdivisions, maybe more, who are willing to collectively commit to the city of Senoia that they will immediately undertake and give periodic feedback to the city on progress being made by hundreds of homeowners who would, in a collective organized fashion, pursue with Coweta County government authorities, the county mandating the forced restoration of the 4 acre property by its owner, to proper (Rural Conservation) zoned conditions; and for the owner to remove trash and commercial vehicles that have accumulated thereon, plus ground/structures contamination, if any. Therefore there is absolutely no need for the city of Senoia to annex/rezone the 4 acre property,” the summary said, and with Rehman noting that area residents would seek some type of court action of their attempts with the county fail.

In his request that the council deny the request, Rehman also expressed significant concerns over what he said would be the impact on increased traffic on Rockaway Road, especially at community events.

“We can’t afford to put even one more car on the road,” he said.

Looking into the future with the potential for adding tenants such as a dentist office the site, Rehman said a truck carrying nitrous oxide is like a loaded bomb.

Among the many additional reasons for denying the request noted in his summary, Rehman said Bogee could construct a “cheaper” building that what they initially indicated, problems the presence of alcohol served for community events that could get out of hand and require police intervention for disorderly people or intoxicated drivers, the potential for considerable outside noise or loud music during community events that would disturb neighbors, the potential for office renters such as “porn,” massage or loan offices and the adverse impact on surrounding property values.

Speaking in favor the the project, as in previous meetings, was Morningside subdivision representative Chuck Eichorst, who said the Bogee proposal was good and beneficial, that it would clean up the property and would enhance the traffic corridor into the city. Eichorst added that he did not believe any increased traffic from the development would be a problem.

“This has got to be one of the most well-discussed proposals for some time,” said council member Larry Owens at the end of the public comments.

While he respected the company, Owens said property was available for such a project in the city. In the end, Owens said he would side with the majority of residents.

“As their representative, I’ll have to respectfully vote ‘no,’” he said.

Councilman Keith Harrison spoke next, saying he had gone back and forth on the project.

“With other (Office Institutional-zoned) property available in the city I can’t approve what you want,” Harrison said. “I’ve fought hard with myself on this.”

Also weighing on the issue was council member Maurice Grover, saying that he had faith in the company, but with so many empty lots downtownhe could not vote to approve the request.

The vote on the application was 5-0 against approval.

Just prior to the unanimous vote to deny the application, Rogers told the council that, “As of 4 p.m. today there was only one piece of property listed with MLS. It’s on Highway 16 and it’s (zoned) R-40. We hope you have these open spaces. They need to advertise.”