A rezoning that will allow for a nearly 200-lot age restricted subdivision in the west Hall County area was approved by the Hall County Commission Thursday night.
CalAtlantic Group was asking for the more than 72-acre lot on Stephens Road just north of Flat Creek Road to be rezoned from Agricultural-Residential-III, Residential-I and Vacation Cottage to Planned Residential Development for the 194-unit development.
Brian Rochester of Rochester and Associates spoke on behalf of CalAtlantic Group at the meeting and he said the developers had taken steps to answer concerns of nearby residents.
"We've spent a lot of time with the neighbors, and I think the one thing I've heard is most of them would rather it stay a pasture, but if it's going to change, this is probably the best of all the options," Rochester said.
Rochester said the neighborhood will feature mostly ranch-style homes, which he said are attractive to retirees. He said the development also includes plans to add turning lanes on Stephens Road into the subdivision, with any widening occurring on the subdivision's side of the road with no impact to other properties.
Two nearby residents spoke in favor of the development, with both saying that Rochester and CalAtlantic had satisfied them with their steps to limit the impact to the surrounding homes. District Two Commissioner Billy Powell spoke after the hearing before making the motion to approve the rezoning, saying that he was pleased with how CalAtlantic and the nearby residents had handled the process.
"We appreciate it when developers really sit down and listen to the concerns of the neighbors, because they've been here. We have an obligation to them, to support their neighborhood and their way of living," Powell said.
Rochester said he believes the development will be successful.
"CalAtlantic is one of the largest premier builders in the country," Rochester said. "So it is great to have someone with that kind of reputation and staying power that will be coming in and building such a quality project in our community."
