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Cemetery relocation, senior living facility among issues up for Hall County Commission vote this week

By B.J. Williams
Posted 7:03PM on Monday 6th January 2020 ( 4 years ago )

When Hall County commissioners meet Thursday for their first voting session of 2020, they'll face a lengthy list of planning and development issues on their agenda, including the controversial relocation of an historic family cemetery and a rezoning request for construction of a senior living facility in the Braselton area. 

Relocation of the Thompson Family Cemetery

The discussion about the relocation of two dozen historic graves from a home construction site on Dunlap Drive north of Gainesville has been going on since October, when the Hall County Planning Commission tabled a request from the builder to allow the graves to be moved. The planning board at that time agreed to allow more time for descendants of those buried at the Thompson Family Cemetery to learn about builder Richard Padgham's plan to move the graves to allow for construction of a lake home on the site. The graves had already been moved once in 1957 as Lake Lanier was filling.

The request was tabled again in November, but in December, the planning board revisited Padgham's request and approved it after Thompson family descendants agreed with a plan to move the remains and the markers to Alta Vista Cemetery in Gainesville.

Sarah McQuade, Director of Planning and Development, told commissioners all parties had ironed out their differences last month, but Commissioner Shelly Echols wanted reassurance. 

"So, just to reiterate, the family is all in support of this?" Echols asked.

"Those who came and spoke at the public hearing were in support, yes," McQuade said.

Developer wants to construct four-story senior living facility in Braselton area

County commissioners also will decide whether to approve a rezoning request from Highlands Residential, LLC, a developer seeking to construct a senior living facility on Thompson Mill Road near its intersection with Napa Ridge Road in Braselton.

McQuade said her office had received questions about the development via email, but no one spoke in opposition to the request when it went before the Hall County Planning Commission. 

"The applicant has developed multiple senior living facilities in the past," McQuade said. "It would be four stories, so they are requesting a variance from Gateway standards because that limits them to three [stories]."

The facility would be comprised of 152 units. 

Other agenda items

To find the full agenda for Thursday's voting session, follow this link. 

The Hall County Commission will meet Thursday, Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. at the County Government Center at 2875 Browns Bridge Road in Gainesville. 

 

Twenty-four of the 72 graves that made up the Thompson Family Cemetery was moved to a location on Dunlap Drive in 1957 to allow for the filling of Lake Lanier. This image from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is included in the materials provided to the Hall County Commission. Commissioners will vote Thursday on a second relocation for the graves.
Highlands Residential, LLC wants rezoning approval from the Hall County Commission to allow for construction of a four-story, 152-unit senior living facility on Thompson Mill Road at Napa Ridge Road. Commissioners will vote on the request Thursday. (Photo: Hall County Planning and Development)
The Thompson Family Cemetery will be relocated for a second time if the Hall County Commission gives final approval to the request at a voting session Thursday night. (File photo from Hall County Government)

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