Aiken North Mixed
PROPOSED
Location: Aiken Rd and Johnson Rd
FF DRO: Partial
Proposal: 292 apartments, commercial buildings (4 stories with addt'l parking garage underneath), restaurants, and gas stations along Aiken Rd and Johnson. The plans currently show one gas station but lists two. Additionally, during the "neighborhood meeting" we were informed about future offices planned for the DRO portion next to the gas station.
Representative: Bardenwerper, Talbott, & Roberts, PLLC
Developer: Perfection Builders
Design Engineer: Mindel Scott
Owner: Perfection Builders
This development is in a preliminary stage. Aiken 103 Partners hosted Neighborhood Mtg Jan 14, 2025.
Applicant promises another mtg, as space was filled beyond capacity. This was a very animated meeting lasting ~2.5 hrs.
This proposal will require a zoning change which gives the Planning Commission discretion regarding the very real concerns brought up in the neighborhood meeting.
Zoning changes require approval from Metro Council. Your voice matters! Last time, no one spoke up and Metro Council approved it unanimously.
Build it and infrastructure will follow...really?
This proposal is for 292 apartments, along with entire small town. It is between 1,043 approved dwellings. Over 1,300 dwellings and the ONLY improvement being considered is a roundabout. This is on a road that serviced just a few hundred vehicles a day but will soon be servicing over 10,000 a day!
We are often told one of three things:
1. Infrastructure follows development.
There are no plans to build sidewalks, bike lanes, or any form of mobility improvements. Infrastructure is not following.
2. We should thank a developer whenever a road is improved.
It's the development that is requiring the roads to be improved, but they rarely improve roads and only to the absolute minimum with clauses to get out of their promises if at all possible.
3. It's resident's fault roads aren't improved. "Residents are unwilling to pay more taxes" or "Residents just don't like change."
Tax money goes to the larger city, not to the specific road. There is a difference between change and blowing out roadways and waterways. 1,300 dwellings on the same roads that carried 600 is more than just "change." Filling in the floodplains and developing in a conveyance zone is more than just "chanage."
