About Dawson County news. (Dawsonville, Georgia) 2015-current | View Entire Issue (June 8, 2022)
Wednesday, June 8,2022 dawsonnews.com I DAWSON COUNTY NEWS I 3A Rezoning OK’d for Grandview at Lanier project ' *1* . : J , ^ . ... gt J jj ''jAq 1 . , v ,——v dawson county disclaims N Dawson County Parcel 0:1,13-081 /WL“S\ SSSSs A Current Zoning: RA l J from the use of this map. M Plaiimng_aild,Developirient FLU: RPC THIS MAP IS ONLY FOR \ 1 . r , ■ ,, display purposes. „ , 48 Application #.ZA 22-13 15,564 S l_ieport Maps submitted to DCN The GrandView at Lanier conservation subdivision off of Ga. 53 will span 59.5 acres and include 55 townhomes and 84 single-family residences. GrandView at Lanier EXHIBIT A - SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT SITE DATA A :pALLIANC! m_ ENGINEERING + PLAN Nil Concept plans for the development show townhouses to the left side of the land and the homes to the right for a total average gross density of 2.33 acres. By Julia Fechter jfechter@dawsonnews.com Following news of a proposed settle ment with the developer, the Dawson County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to approve a rezone request of 59.5 acres for 139 residential units off of Ga. 53 near Elliott Road. The request was approved with a list of stipulations that Planning Director Sharon Farrell read into the record during the meeting. On May 5, the commissioners voted to approve a settlement agreement between Dawson Forest Holdings and the county for the GrandView at Fanier subdivision. The subdivision’s renewed concept plans are part of that proposed settlement. GrandView at Fanier first came into public discourse in the beginning of 2018. At that time, the developer requested a rezoning of parcels TMP FI3-081 and 114-033 from CHB (Commercial Highway Business) and RA (Residential Agriculture) to RMF (Residential Multi- Family) and RS3 (Residential Suburban 3). Then in February 2018, a lawyer for Dawson Forest Holdings sued the then- county commissioners individually and in their government capacities, alleging their refusal to change the zoning classification infringed the developer’s property rights. The developer wanted 16.5 acres rezoned to RMF for the townhouses in the western part of the land and then 43-plus acres to the east of a creek rezoned to RS3. The subdivision is planned to have 55 multi-family residences and 84 single-fam ily ones, for an overall density of 2.33 resi dential units per acre. Miles, Hansford and Tallant lawyer Joshua Scoggins spoke on behalf of Dawson Forest Holdings. Scoggins described the minimum square footage for the townhomes and single-family homes to be 1,000 and 2,000 square feet respective ly. He estimated the prices for each to be “high 200s” and “high 300s.” This iteration of the subdivision includes 38 less homes than the initially-planned 177. Scoggins said the presented concept plan is one with which his client can be happy, calling the development a conserva tion subdivision that better uses topogra phy and open areas and saves taxpayers money by helping resolve the litigation. Per those rules, the concept plan includ ed space for an event lawn and park and a minimum of 23 acres for open space. A main entrance is planned coming into the development from Ga. 53. A gated, unpaved emergency access is planned on the eastern side of the land bordering Elliott Road. This secondary entrance will have grass and be load-bearing so regular drivers are not encouraged to drive into it. Back at the May 5 BOC meeting, coun ty manager David Headley shared staff’s recommendation to overlay Elliott Road where possible on its eastern or non-resi- dential side and add a two- to four-foot shoulder and pull offs to help improve sight distance. Additionally, the developer is to dedicate a 15-foot right of way along Elliott Road. Behind that strip of space would be a required 50-foot graded and replanted buf fer with a six-foot berm along the road. The trees in the buffer would include over 40 percent evergreen species, Farrell said. Also included in the stipulations were several other buffer conditions relating to adjacent tracts and distance from water ways. As a lake-area resident, Tony Passarello expressed his concern about the impact of the development’s construction on proxi mate streams and Fake Fanier, citing how runoff and stormwater mismanagement during past construction has made the nearby cove unusable. He estimated the development will have about 280 feet of lake frontage and asked for additional stipulations like doubling the waterway buffers, increasing county- level stormwater monitoring and publica tion of findings and prohibiting disposal of concrete washout within 500 feet of the state streams and lake. District 3 Commissioner Tim Satterfield and District 4 Commissioner Emory Dooley reaffirmed that such findings could and would be made publicly available. At least one person also wondered about protections against sewer spills, given the planned location of a sewer pump on the concept schematics. “I don’t want to do anything that’s going to jeopardize the water...not at all,” said District 1 Commissioner Sharon Fausett. Scoggins later said that the developer has increased the lots’ setback to allow for the 25 and 50-foot buffers, even though they can legally run the lots right up to the bodies of water. Multiple county officials at the meeting commented on how regulations at the county, state and federal levels have been strengthened over the past few years. Scoggins added that the regulations “are not something that’s played around by developers now” and elaborated that “mil lions of dollars in liability” hang on mind ing runoff-related rules. Satterfield pointed to the county’s intent to add a stormwater projects manager onto staff in the future, which County Manager David Headley presented at the June 2 work session. Multiple speakers also shared concerns about how the development would likely stress already-busy emergency services, particularly Fire Station 2, and cost the county more to service than the taxes that would be generated. Fausett later sympathized with the pub lic speakers, saying she didn’t want people to be miserable in the homes they’ve built and bought. “My loyalty is to those who are already here,” she said. “To me, your comments do make a difference. I do listen and take notes...and this isn’t just a formality. I want something to come out of it.” District 2 Commissioner Chris Gaines added that the development’s initial impact was projected to be much worse and said they’ve come a long way in getting it to where it is now in the plans. “Nobody leaves happy,” he said. “I don’t think the developer’s happy because they wanted more lots, and we’re not fully happy because we didn’t want any lots.” Gaines said it comes down to “the mid dle ground” and reaffirmed this plan as being the best one yet where “both sides have come to the table to try to mitigate the concerns that both of us have as much as possible.” Like us on Facebook Dawson County Elections and Registration Voting Schedule For the Democratic & Republican Primary Runoff June 21.2022 Voter Registration Deadline: April 25th local & State ~ May 23,2022 Federal Mon - Fri 8am to 5pm June 13-17,2022 - No Saturday Voting At Board of Elections office - 96 Academy Ave ** Note: Absentee by mail ballot applications for elderly/disabled/military need to be requested each election year, in order to receive ballots, by mail, for the remainder of that year; time frame to request begins 78 days prior and ends **11 days prior to the election on the application sup plied by the Secretary of State's office. https://securemyabsenteeballot.sos.ga.g0v/s/ **ALL absentee voters: June 10,2022 is the last day to request an absentee ballot for this election. All Polls will be open Election Day from 7:00 am - 7:00 pm ~ Must vote at assigned precinct on Election Day ~ 1. ) WEST precinct - at Fire Station #6 on Hubbard Rd 2. ) CENTRAL precinct - at Board of Elections office, 96 Academy Avenue 3. ) EAST precinct - at Fire Station #2 on Liberty Drive (next to Tractor Supply) If in question about your voting location, and/or to view a sample ballot you may visit "My Voter Page" @ https://mvp.s0s.ga.g0v/s/ or call the Elections & Registration office at 706-344-3640 ~ For primary runoff elections, what ballot choice you voted in the pri mary, you must vote the same ballot choice in the runoff. If you did not vote in the primary, if eligible, you may choose to vote in the runoff for the selection of your choice. (No voting on Monday prior to all elections). PUBLIC NOTICE: The Dawson County Board of Elections and Registration is scheduled to begin the Logic & Accuracy preparation & testing process on, ICP & ICC tabulators, ICX-BMD, Poll Pads & other necessary voting equipment for use in the June 21, 2022 General Primary Democratic & Republican Party Runoff Election on Tuesday, June 7th, 2022 at 96 Academy Avenue. Testing will continue from 9 am to 4 pm daily until completion and is open to the public. Any questions can be directed to gferguson@dawsoncounty.org Glenda Ferguson Election Supervisor
