Lake Santeetlah votes 4-1 for new development
Lake Santeetlah – A 2001 brainstorm took a step in the right direction, 19 years after it was initially discussed.
After a lengthy public hearing – which included a continued session from January – the Town of Lake Santeetlah voted 4-1 during its Feb. 11 meeting to approve a zoning ordinance, which would allow Atlanta-based TSW Architecture to move forward with a condominium in the township.
The project – titled Lakeside Lodge Condominium at Lake Santeetlah – is spearheaded by Jose F. Rosado, a developer with Lake Point Properties of Santeetlah LLC. The town originally approved the project in 2002, and there was even a groundbreaking held in July of that same year.
However, issues arose when the blueprints were drawn up. It was discovered that the building would stand 44 feet, 9 inches, which is almost 15 feet more than Lake Santeetlah’s normal zoning ordinance of 30 feet.
The height was the biggest factor behind council member Keith Predmore voting against the variance, who had requested the ceiling heights inside the rooms – measuring 10 feet – to be brought down to around 8 feet, 6 inches.
“It appears there could be possibilities to change the look, footprint and location of the building,” he said.
Before voting in-favor of the allowance, council member Roger Carlton expressed great concern over how the facility would be managed. Rosado agreed – on behalf of the firm – that sewer, fire and rescue, and even waste management, would all be addressed before the project is completed.
“This is a moving target and this is the one time that this council will be able to make a determination on this building,” Carlton said.
The facility will feature a three-story lodge surrounded by cottages, fire pits, a canoe-club pavilion and an underground parking garage. Inside the condo will be 10 two-bedroom, 2½-bath units and two penthouses, which will sell for $300,000-500,000.