Supervisors deny apartment complex

A 50-unit boutique apartment development was denied by the Board of Supervisors after nearby residents, including church leaders, raised concerns.

The board vote 5-0 to deny a rezoning request from property owner Prakash Agrawal and developer Stewart Rutledge of Oxford. 

Rutledge made a 15-minute presentation to the board on the request to change the zoning. 

Rutledge had plans to build a 50-unit apartment complex that would attract working class people to an affordable, modern boutique-style of housing units, he said.

An opponent said that no new housing had been built in the area of Highway 16 northwest of Canton near I-55 in more than 50 years.

Rutledge agreed. “Ours is closer to garden-style apartments, a hybrid with more green space, more botique,” Rutledge said. “If you drive from the west on Highway 16 to Canton, it has looked the same, as forever.”

Residents, however, voiced their concerns, including several from two churches.

“We think this is a scheme. They are trying to scheme us,” said Mac Robinson. “I know the church has been trying to buy that land for several years, but have been denied.”

Rutledge said his property would not be funded using Section 8 funds. It would be cash rent and geared toward workers who averaged about $40,000 annually.

“I’m not asking the board to approve an income standard,” Rutledge said. “A lot of the comments voiced here are incorrect, especially when they mention, this is a scheme. They said they have been wanting to buy this property for years, well the owner is sitting right here.”

District 5 Supervisor Paul Griffin voted with the majority in denying Rutledge the re-zoning request.

“The developer needs to come back and communicate better with the community there,” Griffin said. “The community came out and we represent the community. We don’t represent the developer.”