GREENSBORO -- Developer withdraws a proposal Tuesday during a Greensboro City Council meeting to build a retail and office center at the corner of Trosper and Lake Brandt roads.
Developer Ken Miller and his company Sun Capital asked the City of Greensboro to rezone and annex roughly 14 acres for commercial-medium use development on the eastside of Lake Brandt Road.
Miller’s attorney, Marc Isaacson compromised with attorney Marsh Prause who represents only two residents, Craig Lawrence and his wife. A part of the agreement included not having a national chain drugstore as a tenant on the property. However, most residents still disagreed with the proposal and raised concerns about an increase in traffic on the two lane road as well as the development’s environmental impact.
"We don't know what's going to happen when they start this development on the corner of Trosper and Lake Brandt Road and that's where the water feeds our lake (Brandt Lake)."
Many residents said walking into the meeting, they assumed council would approve the rezoning and annexation because the Zoning Commission passed the proposal.
Council appeared to lean towards not annexing the land and rezoning it. Some commented and said its not the highest and best use of the property
"I'm not sure this would be a good fit with the neighborhood,” said Marikay Abuzuaiter, city council member.
When council discussed possibly extending the vote another 30 days in order for the developer to revamp the proposal, Issacson soon after withdrew the applications.
"We would like to withdraw the annexation and the other application,” Isaacson said. "We'll see if we can figure something out.”
Neighbors at the meeting hugged and some cried tears of joy when that happened.
"Very big win for the community we've tried very hard,” said Katherine.
Guilford County School Board of Education Members, Rebecca Buffington and Darlene Garrett as well as the principal Of Jesse Wharton Elementary School discouraged council from approving the plan.
The school is across the street and BOE members worried about possible alcohol sales at the complex.