An age-restricted residential community could be coming to Gainesville's Dawsonville Highway corridor if the proposal continues making its way through a multi-step approval process.
Gainesville Planning Manager Matt Tate presented Oak Hall Companies, LLC's proposal to city council members at their work session Thursday morning, describing the nearly 235-acre development as an "active adult community" that would be restricted to residents aged 55 or older.
Oak Hall originally proposed the development as three separate projects, but moved to consolidate them into a single request at the recommendation of city planners'
"Essentially, all three requests - the applicant is proposing 880 age-restricted residential units," Tate explained.
Tate said the proposal divided the housing units into a number of different categories:
- 305 detached homes
- 79 cottages
- 81 detached terrace homes
- 90 town homes
- 175 independent living units
- 150 assisted living units
Tate said city planners recommended reducing the number of overall units to 860, allowing the community to fall within parameters set by the city's Comprehensive Plan, which allows for only four units per acre.
Primary access to the community would come from Dawsonville Highway, although additional means of access would be provided from Ahaluna Drive, Strickland Drive and Karen Lane.
The development would include more than just residential units, according to Tate.
"This would also include a very large amenity area - a swimming pool, club house, passive parks," he said. "There's two community boat docks approved by the Corps. [of Engineers], that will remain at 140 boat slips."
The community would also include around 70 acres that would serve as a dedicated "green space."
In addition to providing housing and other amenities to local seniors, the development would also allow for additional commercial and retail space that would be fronted along Dawsonville Highway.
"There's an office/commercial component fronting on Dawsonville Highway," he said. "24,000-square-feet of office and retail space, 56,000-square-feet of commercial space, and this would be divvied up between seven commercial lots."
Due to the size of the development, the community would also have to allow for a new fire station site, a structure Tate said was already being designed.
If the development is allowed to move forward, Oak Hall would be required to meet, or provide for, several requirements related to the increase in traffic that the highly-traveled corridor would see, including:
- Providing a signal warrant analysis for three intersections along Dawsonville Highway, along with covering any expenses should improvements be warranted.
- Performing several traffic improvements along the corridor, including the addition of exclusive right-turn lanes and the design and construction of left-turn lanes in accordance with GDOT standards.
- Paying $425,000 for roadway improvements along Dawsonville Highway between Ahaluna Drive and McEver Road.
The proposal was added to the agenda for city council's meeting on June 6th, which will allow for public comment.
