FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Some neighbors who live near a famous rapper say they will leave for vacation if entertainer Rick Ross is allowed to hold a concert that’s expected to bring more than 6,000 fans to their community.
Those neighbors told the Fayette County Board of Commissioners the event brought traffic to a standstill last year.
Members of the Northridge subdivision signed petitions opposing Ross’ Concert, Car and Bike show he plans to hold at his mansion on Highway 279.
“I have the petitions here that we signed,” one neighbor told the board during the meeting Tuesday.
Others told the board how the event gave them massive headaches last year.
“Our quality of life was unnecessarily compromised,” one man said.
Another said Ross’ mansion isn’t zoned for the type of event he wants to hold. Many talked about the gridlock the event caused.
“We feel locked out. It took me 40 minutes to get out of my subdivision,” a homeowner said.
Ross wants to have the car and bike show on June 3 and Lil Wayne is set to perform.
Neighbors say the roads can’t handle the 6,500 fans expected to attend the event.
“We urge that this application, if it has been made, be denied,” Carlton Morse told the board.
Channel 2′s Tom Jones went to several communities surrounding Ross’ mansion.
Ken Kincaid lives in the Northridge subdivision. He says last year’s event made life miserable.
“It’s gonna impact us. It will shut us down,” Kincaid said. “You couldn’t get in and out of your home, out of our subdivision,” he said.
The commissioners discussed filing an injunction to prevent the event from going forward. Then they decided to study the matter more before making a decision.
Kincaid said some of his neighbors aren’t taking a chance.
“Some of our people already talking about going on vacation or going somewhere during that time because you can’t get out or in,” he pointed out.
The commissioners say they are listening to citizens’ concerns as they evaluate Ross’ request to hold this event.
One of Ross’ former attorneys reached out to his current attorney to see if he had a comment. He said he did not hear back from that attorney.