By Rita McInerney

Less than two weeks after Catholic Social Services had won zoning approval for elderly housing in Forsyth County, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rejected the agency’s application for $800,000 funding of the development.

One of the two reasons given by HUD in its Oct. 3 letter to CSS was that the site was not appropriately zoned. The second reason the site was “found unapprovable “ was because it is remote and would require a septic tank.

The 20-unit development on a five-acre site at Bald Ridge Acres was conditionally approved for rezoning by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners at a meeting Sept. 25. This followed a recommendation by the Forsyth County and City of Cumming Planning Commission on Aug. 29 that commissioners deny the request. The rezoning change is from vacation cottage restricted to multi-family residential.

The development is located about one mile from the second Cumming exit off 44, about a mile-and-a-half from Lake Lanier and two or three miles from the courthouse in Cumming.

The 20 units would be efficiency and one bedroom. The plan also includes an office, laundry facilities and a meeting room. The housing is intended to help fill the need of senior citizens of low to moderate income in Forsyth County, according to Sister Kathryn Cliatt, OP, of The Place in Cumming, the rural Social Services office.

Steve Brazen, executive director of CSS, said the HUD letter rejecting the application was inaccurate because it said, “we did not indicate to them that the land could be rezoned.” Submitted with the application, he said, was a document from the county zoning officer advising of procedure to follow to obtain rezoning.

The second reason for the denial, Brazen said, ignored inclusion in the application package of a letter from the Georgia Residential Finance Authority approving a $30,000 site development grant. The grant, subject to HUD approval of the housing, could be used for a septic tank.

Brazen expressed surprise at HUD refusal to fund the project because “there was a favorable reception (by HUD) at the regional level. Something happened in D.C.”

He expressed the opinion shared with Sister Cliatt that “a couple of well-connected individuals in the county got to HUD. I find it disillusioning to deal with this.”

Brazen said both Georgia senators Sam Nunn and Wyche Fowler have intervened in an effort to have HUD reverse its decision. Word is expected on their action soon. If they should fail, alternative financing will be explored.

“The elderly in that county have the right to decent housing, despite a few individuals,” Brazen commented. “I’m hoping it’s just a small group.”

Sister Cliatt said a “good number of people are being very supportive,” and The Place has received a number of large donations, unusual for this time of year. She believes it is a result of people wanting to show their support in the face of the negative reaction the proposed development has prompted.

Michael McGHaughey, the county commissioner who made the motion to approve the zoning request at the Sept 25 meeting, sent a letter “thanking us for our continuing work in support of the needy in the county, she said.

As for the rejection of the application by HUD, she said, “We’re not ready to give up. We’ll fight to the bitter end.”