Cherokee Planning Commission Rejects 154-Home Subdivision

CANTON, GA -- A proposal to rezone a little more than 100 acres along East Cherokee Drive to accommodate a large subdivision near the Macedonia community was rejected Tuesday by the Cherokee County Planning Commission.

Commissioners voted to recommend denial of a proposal from Collett Family LLC to rezone 102.5 acres on East Cherokee Drive from agriculture to R-20 and R-30 -- single family residential -- to accommodate a 154-lot single family, detached subdivision.

One parcel, 87.94 acres on the northwest side of East Cherokee Drive, calls for constructing 127 detached homes at 1.45 units an acre while the 14.57-acre parcel on the southeast side would feature about 27 residences at 1.96 units an acre. The land is sandwiched between Johnson Brady and Beavers roads.

According to the county's Future Development map, the area in question has been designated as Country Estates and Suburban Growth areas.

The county defines its Country Estates area one that features low-density residential communities, with sparsely developed land, some agricultural production and large lot subdivisions. Suggested zoning for the area includes agriculture and R-80, a residential use with lower density.

The Suburban Growth area features pockets of neighborhoods interspersed with rural landscapes, and suggested zoning categories are also R-80, R-60 and R-40 residential uses.

County staff noted in its report that the project was not consistent with the Future Development Map's designation of Country Estates and Suburban Growth areas. For its part, the Cherokee County School District estimated that if the project was approved, the result would be about 109 additional students enrolled in schools serving the area: Avery Elementary, Creekland Middle and Creekview High schools.

The case now goes to the Cherokee County Commission for consideration at its Aug. 1 meeting.

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