Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst announced July 14 that he is seeking a moratorium on rezoning for high-density development projects, specifically apartment complexes.

Ernst made the announcement at the city’s kick-off meeting for its character area studies. Those in attendance applauded the decision.

The City Council will have to vote on the moratorium next month, Ernst said.

“We’re stopping the train,” he said.

“It gives space for the character area studies to play out and to get input from the citizens … so they don’t have to be fearful of the next rezoning.”

The moratorium would not affect current proposed developments, including those on Dresden Drive and the MARTA redevelopment, he said.

Developments that don’t require rezoning also are not affected by the moratorium.

The call for a moratorium comes after proposed mixed-use developments on Dresden Drive have brought out numerous residents living in the surrounding single-family homes neighborhoods to protest the high-density developments at community meetings.

The Planning Commission recently voted to not recommend approval of the proposed Solis Dresden development at the corner of Dresden Drive and Appalachee Drive. Developers there want to build a four-story complex with 113 apartments with the main floor having retail and a restaurant.

Another similar mixed-use development on Dresden Drive, named Dresden Village, is proposed to go on the property where the DeKalb County Tax Commissioner office is located.

Residents living in surrounding neighborhoods have complained that these kinds of high-density developments will only worsen traffic in already congested areas, will affect their neighborhood’s character negatively, and put stress on the city’s infrastructure.

This four-story development includes 194 apartments. It goes before the Planning Commission on Aug. 3.