The Lake Forest Property Owners Association plans to oppose two developments to be discussed at the Monday City Council meeting and an upcoming Board of Zoning Adjustments meeting.

At issue is property located behind the Lake Forest Country Club and golf course, adjacent to the existing Grande Pointe Apartments and Tiawassee Creek — the site of a proposed rezoning to R-4, high density, multifamily residential. Lake Forest, as a whole, is zoned R-3, high density, single-family residential.

The rezoning would allow for a second phase of Grande Pointe, which LFPOA president Henry Lawson believes wouldn’t suit the subdivision.

“We are opposed to any activity or growth that is contrary to the single-family residence,” Lawson said.

“From what I have heard and observed, it doesn’t fit in with the surrounding property,” said Councilman Ron Scott, of District 5, which includes the property in question.

Grande Pointe employees wouldn’t speak about the issue but the complex’s attorneys released the following statement: “The phase two land is not adjacent to single family homes and is therefore uniquely suited for R-4 zoning and is not suited for other uses.”

Phase one of the apartment complex has 186 units. Phase two would have 124 units. Both phases are in opposition to Lake Forest’s single-family way of life, Lawson said. He added that a rezoning could present future issues.

“One of the problems is this is a zoning request; if it is approved, any builder could come and build as long as it meets the zoning minimums,” Lawson said.

The LFPOA also opposes an exception for zoning that Restoration Fellowship Ministries Inc. is expected to request at the Board of Zoning Adjustments meeting Sept. 6.

Restoration — which owns part of a 40-acre tract within the Lake Forest area that’s apart from the subdivision — would build a church that also violates the LFPOA’s “single-family” motto, said Diane Hurst, Board of Zoning Adjustments chairman, who also serves as chairman of an LFPOA action committee against the two developments.

“We’re not against churches; we would have the same position if it were anything other than single-family residential dwellings.” Hurst said.

Hurst said traffic also could be a problem.

No formal road system leads to the property; just several smaller roads, Hurst said.

Starling King III, Restoration executive director, seemed unsure about the motivation behind the backlash.

“Churches pop up everywhere; as far as the church itself, it’s not a business nature, it’s spiritual support,” he said.

“We’re getting permission that we can build there,” he added.