By HANA KIM
6 News Reporter
ROCKWOOD (WATE) - A heated debate about low income housing is brewing in Rockwood in Roane County. Rockwood City Council members Jason Jolly and Peggy Evans get along just fine but when it comes to an upcoming rezoning issue they will be at odds.
Heritage Hills, a low income housing development, is slated to be built next to Deer Run Apartments in Rockwood.
"I'm opposed to low income housing, our police department, fire department and 911 would be overworked and overtaxed. We have low income housing all over our town we are not full," said Evans.
Jolly said developer DPKY Management is planning to build 72 units in this area. As far as construction is concerned, the city has no right to stop it. Jolly said the rezoning issue has to do with parking.
"What we are voting is not to stop them from building but help them with the parking," said Jolly.
Evans is against the rezoning proposal because she said it would also open the door for a high-rise apartment complex to be built, which is not allowed under current zoning.
"I'm really not sure what they are going to build I haven't seen the plan and I am not sure," said Evans.
"My hope is that they won't build 200 units that they will build these family units that they said they would," said Jolly.
6 News was unable to reach DPKY Management for comment, but council member Jolly did share a series of questions and answers between the company and a council member about the development with us. On paper DPKY Management calls the development affordable housing with a one bedroom unit starting at $330 dollars. It states Heritage Hills will not be government subsidized.
"If it's not government subsidized housing, I am supportive to bring more revenue to this community," said Jolly. "We will have 72 water meters revenue off of that electric meters or sewer and gas."
Evans is still not buying into the idea, saying no matter the semantics, the bottom line is that the development will be low income and will therefore hurt their already struggling local economy.
"My concern is that since we don't have the demand here that we start getting these people from all other counties and I just don't think we can handle that," said Evans.
"I think it helps our community here and bringing more people here brings more revenue I don't think it hurts it," said Jolly.
During the first reading of the rezoning issue, the proposal passed by a 4 to 3 vote.
The final vote is scheduled for February 15th.
