City OKs Boone Ford development
Calhoun’s City Council cleared the way for a development off Boone Ford Road this week with the approval of a set of annexation and zoning requests.
Monday night, four related requests from Artisan Built Communities for the annexation and zoning of four separate but adjacent parcels near Dogwood Lake Road and JoAnn Drive were approved to be changed from County Agricultural to City Planned Residential Development — a combined 76 acres.
The development was approved for a plan that includes up to 187 housing units — 100 single-family detached, and 87 townhomes that Artisan President Stephen Haines said would be “resort style living” mostly marketed to those 55 years and older.
“This is a particular housing development that lessens the impact on the community while still providing to the community,” Haines said.
A public hearing on the matter drew several speakers, several concerned with added traffic to Boone Ford Road and the Lovers Lane Road intersection. Others spoke in favor of the development to help address the local affordable housing issue.
The property adjoins the a 110acre property off Lovers Lane Road to the north also owned by Artisan where last May the developer asked the city to downsize a project from an already approved 325 housing units to around 250 to allow more space and less congestion.
All measures passed the council by 3-0 votes with Councilwoman Jackie Palazzolo abstaining. Each came with the recommendation for approval from the Zoning Advisory Board.
Also approved was a zoning change request from Residential-1B to Commercial-2 for 1.385 acres at 1229 McDaniel Station Road by Cody R. Bailey, as well as an annexation and zoning request by Filemon Perez Lopez for 1.64 acres at 126 Newtown Road.
A measure related to commercial signage was also approved in a 180-square-foot variance from 620 to 800 for a wall sign to match the Brock Air Products building at 273 Belwood Road.
All of those measures also came with a recommendation for approval from the Zoning Advisory Board.
A Beer, Wine, and Liquor Package License request by Calhoun GA LLC (Warehouse Liquor) was approved for 255 W. Line St., while a revolving loan application from Racemark International, 1711 Highway 41, in the amount of $500,000 for facility expansion was also approved pending review by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
A request from the Calhoun Police Department to use State Forfeiture funds No. 1 in the amount of $550.93 to for the purchase of necessary K-9 equipment for a new dog was approved, as well as the surplus of a 2013 Dodge Charger, and a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle to be sold on GovDeals.
Finally, the City joined Gordon County in proclaiming April 9 through 15 as Telecommunicators Week locally.
The next scheduled meeting of the council is set for Monday, April 24, at the Depot, 109 S. King St. All meetings are open to the public.