The Hall County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a 42-acre tract of land in South Hall as an agri-entertainment venue to host weddings and other gatherings at its voting session Thursday night at the Hall County Government Center on Browns Bridge Road.
The application was made by Cathy and Roger Little who mainly want to use the land for farm weddings. The land in question sits on the south side of Guth Road off of J.M. Turk Road near Flowery Branch and the venue would be open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and 9:00 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Several residents spoke, voicing both approval and concern over the proposed venue. Tom Goodman lives nearby and said he's concerned about traffic safety issues that might arise after an event.
"When that venue starts letting go and you have 130 people, 200 people...could be 50 cars, could be 200 cars - who knows," Goodman said. "They all leave that event and there's been drinking going on and they get on J.M. Turk Road coming off of Guth Road - that's a recipe for disaster."
Oakwood attorney Chris Elrod spoke in favor of the proposal, saying the venue would only occupy the four to five acres closest to the road and wouldn't make traffic safety any worse in the area than it already is.
"Mrs. Little can't be held responsible for the fact that people rip up and down the road and use it as a shortcut," Elrod said. "They're the ones that caused all that traffic when they built all those subdivisions."
District One Commissioner Kathy Cooper moved to approve the proposal under the conditions that there be no concerts held in the venue and that any music or event end by 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays to allow parties time to clean up and leave. Elrod said the conditions were reasonable.
"There was never any anticipation of having concerts up there," Elrod said.
Cooper said she has faith the owners will use the land properly and thinks the venue will be a good addition to the community.
"I know the venue very well," Cooper said. "Its a perfect place for that and I know that the owner is going to stay within the means of what she said she was going to do. It'll be beautiful."
Commissioners tackle traffic light questions for south end of the county
At the Thursday voting session, commissioners unanimously agreed to apply to the Georgia Department of Transportation for a traffic signal on the proposed Martin Road exit of Interstate 985 and to approve intergovernmental agreements with the cities of Flowery Branch and Gainesville to maintain exits along 985. The cities would contribute $10,000 and $20,000 a year respectively under the agreement.
What was not settled was a proposed traffic signal on Spout Springs Road at Lake Sterling Boulevard. The item was tabled until a survey could be conducted by engineers to determine if the intersection warranted a traffic signal.
Hall County Public Works and Utilities Director Ken Rearden said the signal, when approved, would serve as a temporary relief to traffic in the area until a proposed future widening of Spout Springs Road.
