When Hall County commissioners meet Thursday for their first voting session of 2020, they'll face a lengthy list of planning and development issues on their agenda, including the controversial relocation of an historic family cemetery and a rezoning request for construction of a senior living facility in the Braselton area.
Relocation of the Thompson Family Cemetery
The discussion about the relocation of two dozen historic graves from a home construction site on Dunlap Drive north of Gainesville has been going on since October, when the Hall County Planning Commission tabled a request from the builder to allow the graves to be moved. The planning board at that time agreed to allow more time for descendants of those buried at the Thompson Family Cemetery to learn about builder Richard Padgham's plan to move the graves to allow for construction of a lake home on the site. The graves had already been moved once in 1957 as Lake Lanier was filling.
The request was tabled again in November, but in December, the planning board revisited Padgham's request and approved it after Thompson family descendants agreed with a plan to move the remains and the markers to Alta Vista Cemetery in Gainesville.
Sarah McQuade, Director of Planning and Development, told commissioners all parties had ironed out their differences last month, but Commissioner Shelly Echols wanted reassurance.
"So, just to reiterate, the family is all in support of this?" Echols asked.
"Those who came and spoke at the public hearing were in support, yes," McQuade said.
Developer wants to construct four-story senior living facility in Braselton area
County commissioners also will decide whether to approve a rezoning request from Highlands Residential, LLC, a developer seeking to construct a senior living facility on Thompson Mill Road near its intersection with Napa Ridge Road in Braselton.
McQuade said her office had received questions about the development via email, but no one spoke in opposition to the request when it went before the Hall County Planning Commission.
"The applicant has developed multiple senior living facilities in the past," McQuade said. "It would be four stories, so they are requesting a variance from Gateway standards because that limits them to three [stories]."
The facility would be comprised of 152 units.
Other agenda items
- A first reading and public hearing will be held to re-adopt Hall County's Official Zoning Map. This vote is taken on an annual basis.
- Commissioners will be asked to approve a plan that would allow for construction of a day care center on a nearly 3.5-acre tract of land at the intersection of Mountain View Road and Old Oakwood Road.
- If approved, a rezoning request from JH A&D LLC would allow for construction of a 15-lot subdivision on an 18-acre tract on Wade Orr Road at Saddlehorse Drive.
To find the full agenda for Thursday's voting session, follow this link.
The Hall County Commission will meet Thursday, Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. at the County Government Center at 2875 Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville.
