The Hall County Board of Commissioners Thursday night voted in approval of a 38-unit townhome development slated for a space east of Gainesville.
The original application and site plan dictated 44 units on the property, however, Commissioner Stowe made it a condition that a maximum of 38 units be built. The development is set for a 5.51-acre tract located at 2455 Floyd Road, according to county documents.
Two residents spoke in favor of the new development, expressing gratitude for the advent of more affordable housing and healthy business practices in the area.
While no one spoke in opposition to the development during Thursday night's meetings, several citizens have expressed concerns at previous public hearings.
The development was motioned for approval by Commissioner Stowe and unanimously approved by other members of the board.
Update published March 4 at 6:35 p.m.:
The Hall County Planning Commission voted Monday night, recommending a 44-unit townhome development slated for a space east of Gainesville.
The vote was a near-split decision, with three planning staff members voting in favor, and two voting against.
Planning staff previously recommended denial of the development due to site plans exceeding one dwelling unit per acre for a Rural Residential future land use classification, according to county documents.
The request as it stands is to rezone the property from Residential to Planned Residential Development.
The area is currently inhabited by residents of a mobile home park, with some of them speaking against the possible development. Some previous concerns included rising tax rates, where current residents would move to, rent prices and crime.
The 5.51-acre tract is planned to be developed with a residential density of 7.99 units per acre, according to the submitted narrative. Plans indicate 24 three-bedroom units and 20 two-bedroom units.
The Hall County Planning Commission's recommendation of approval will now be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for a final vote on April, 11 at 6:00 p.m.
Original story published Dec. 19, 2023 at 6:10 p.m.:
The Hall County Planning Commission voted Monday night to table a 44-unit townhome development slated for a space east of Gainesville.
The proposal submitted by the applicant, Jason Dye, requests a rezoning from Residential to Planned Residential Development, according to county documents. The area in question is 5.51 acres located at 2455 Floyd Road east of Gainesville in Hall County.
Hall County Planning Staff previously recommended denial of the application, citing that the development exceeds the one dwelling unit per acre guideline laid out in the Rural Residential Future Land Use Classification.
The density proposed for this development would be approximately 7.99 units per acre.
The townhome plans indicate square footage ranging from 1,350 square feet to 1,550 square feet with front porches, rear patios and no garages. Additionally, Planning Staff also indicated the proposed architectural style is not in line with the requirement that all homes in a PRD zoning must have accents of brick or stone on the front of the home, which is not shown in the submitted renderings.
The main access to the development is proposed on Floyd Road. An interconnected parking area for development is also proposed with 96 parking spaces.
The property is currently developed with a mobile home park with twenty-two mobile home connections, two single-family residences and a wastewater treatment pond.
Several residents living on the property spoke against the item, citing concerns about being unable to pay the proposed rent amount for the townhomes. Additionally, there were concerns presented by Planning Commissioner Johnny Varner, who said he is unable to support the development due to a lack of transparency and the fact that residents would be uprooted.
The Hall County Planning Commission will revisit the item at their meeting on Jan. 16 in the Hall County Government Center.
