Cherokee Zoning Board approves 342 Apartments on Ga. 92

– A 342-unit apartment complex could be headed to Ga. Highway 92, pending a final decision from the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners. Planning commissioners recommended approval of the development by a unanimous vote on Tuesday.

The Residential Group, LLC, has requested the rezoning of an undeveloped 22.65-acre tract at 1348, 1328, 1320 and 1412 Ga. Highway 92 for multi-family residential and commercial uses. Parks Huff, the attorney representing the applicants, said at the meeting that the development fits the character of the area, as well as county vision.

“I think we’ve got a plan that fits with the area and fits with the county’s goals of providing a diversity of housing and putting it in the right locations,” Huff said, addressing planning commissioners.

Huff said the residential community is close to shopping and future jobs and will provide population to the already established retail developments in the area.

The proposal’s site plan shows amenities like a bocce ball court, a small park and areas for residents to grill outdoors.

Huff also said, based on the school district’s concerns of an estimated 99 students to be added to Clark Creek Elementary and E.T. Booth Middle Schools, which are already over capacity, the applicants plan to sit down and come to an agreement for compensation to the district.

“We will make a contribution that makes sense and is acceptable to the school board,” he said, adding that a portion of property tax revenue would already being going to the district.

Applicants for the project also requested six variances for reduction of buffers to neighboring property, parking and design.

Planning commissioners recommended approval of the design variances and certain buffer reductions, but recommended denial of requests to reduce parking from 600 spaces to 529 and for removal of a buffer to neighboring Army Corps of Engineers property.

Commissioner Tom Ware expressed frustration with the two variance requests, saying the county “can’t just continue to grant every variance that comes before this board.”

“That’s what we’ve been doing in the recent past,” he said.

Commissioner Thais Escondo echoed Ware, adding that applicants should not be granted variances just for asking. Escondo said the developers failed to prove a hardship adequate for the approval of the two questioned variance requests.

The planning commission recommended approval of the rezoning by a unanimous vote. The board denied the variance for a removal of buffers to the Army Corps property by 8-1, with Chairman Bob Whitaker in opposition. The recommendation for denial of the parking variance passed unanimously.