Rome to Decide on Townhouse Projects

Two proposals for townhouse developments are scheduled to go before the Rome City Commission on Monday night. Commissioners also are expected to address a reported alcohol violation at North Broad Food Mart and complaints about its appointments to the Northwest Georgia Housing Authority.

A discussion about the city’s quest to gain some control over “ding dings,” coin operated amusement machines, is slated for the premeeting caucus, which starts at 5 p.m.

The caucus and regular meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m., are held in city hall, 601 Broad St. Both are public sessions.

The townhouse projects, and several other zoning applications, will be decided following public hearings.

The Rome Floyd Planning Commission has recommended approval of Urban Mixed Use for a tract on West Eighth Street to allow construction of six townhouses. The developer is City Commissioner Wayne Robinson, who will abstain from participation as a commissioner.

The planning board recommended denial of a rezoning to Multifamily Residential for a 14-townhouse project on North Broad Extension by Walt Busby’s KC Homes. The area has seen significant growth in recent years and area residents have voiced concerns about adding traffic to the narrow road.

Other items up for consideration are a special use permit for a daycare for adults with special needs or dementia at 213 E. 16th St. and a rezoning at 409 Hardy Ave. to Office Institutional to allow Lovejoy Baptist Church to build a new food and clothing service facility. Both come with recommendations to approve.

Commissioners’ agenda contains just one appointment to the housing authority board, Billy Cooper to replace Jim Keaten. A proposal to replace Hilda Curtis, the only Black city appointee, drew fire from both the NWGHA and Rome-Floyd NAACP. Members of both have signed up to address the city commission.

Also, the Alcohol Control Commission has recommended a $2,000 fine and 90-day suspension of the package license at North Broad Food Mart, 1416 N. Broad St. In response to an anonymous complaint, police found two open beers in the gaming room on March 9. City commissioners recently upheld the same penalty for similar violations at two other local package stores.