Drug Treatment Center Wants Rezoning Change

Photo credit: Patch file

The Cherokee County Commission on Tuesday will consider a rezoning request from a residential drug treatment center near Ball Ground.

The Blue Ridge Mountain Recovery Center is requesting commissioners rezone 39 acres at 1380 Howell Bridge Road from agricultural to office-institutional so it could continue operating as an treatment and drug detox program for men and women.

The commissioners will consider the request during its meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Cherokee County administration building. The meeting will be preceded by a work session, which will start at 3 p.m.

According to a letter written by the lawyer representing the company in the zoning request, the current usage was applicable when the property owner purchased the land in 2011. However, changes to the county’s agricultural zoning category restricted the number of people residing on agricultural zone to a maximum of six.

The company filed a request to expand its footprint on the property, but was told by county staff it needed to rezone the property before it can proceed with its expansion.

The Cherokee County Planning Commission at its Jan. 6 public hearing voted to recommend denial of the company’s request.

Commissioners will also consider a resolution requesting the Georgia General Assembly to enact new, alternative Homestead Option Sales Tax legislation and purchasing 15 new vehicles for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office from low bidder Cherokee Dodge for $350,842.

It will also review annexation notice submitted to the city of Woodstock.

Traton Homes LLC has petitioned the city to annex and rezone 18.05 acres on the south side of South Cherokee Lane, east of South Cherokee Lane Extension, from R-80 residential in the county to R3-A for a single family detached subdivision.

The county administration building is at 1130 Bluffs Parkway in Canton.

See the .PDF to view the complete agenda.