Plans to make Hagen Creek development even bigger

GAINESVILLE - There are plans to make Hall County's largest ever proposed development even bigger.

Hagen Creek is asking that another 95 acres of property on Belton Bridge Road and Georgia 365 be rezoned to accommodate another 170 homes and a 90,000-square-foot commercial/office component.

Almost two years ago, Hagen Creek gained approval from the Hall County Commission for 2,700-home development on 1,500 acres.

That property is adjacent to the 95 acres contained in the latest request, which is to go before the Hall County Planning Commission November 2.

In January 2008 when the county commission approved the 1,500-acre request Commissioner Steve Gailey likened the plans to those for a small city.

Developers told commissioners then they wanted flexibility to increase that number 10 percent or by 270 homes at some point; Gailey said that would need to come back for commission approval.

"The Planning Director would have had to approve it and I think that's just too much to put on an individual," Gailey said. "If it was one percent that's one thing, but 10 percent is quite large."

Gailey said it's the biggest project he's ever seen including a million square feet of commercial and office space over a 12-15 year build-out period.

Nearby home owner Nedra Riddle told Commissioners that night that Hagen Creek's big size would downgrade the quality of life in the area.

"My main concern is the traffic and high density of this whole project," Riddle said at the time.

Hagen Creek attorney W.A. Bagwell told the Commission developers had plans in place to expand and improve roads impacted by Hagen Creek.