Commissioners nix warehouse on Windermere Parkway

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners worked their way through a busy agenda that included a dozen or more public hearings in less than two hours Thursday.

Most of the items passed by unanimous consent. One that did not, however, was a planned commercial use on Windermere Parkway. The applicant, RD Links Investment, LLC proposed an amendment to the zoning condition that would allow a warehouse to be added to a home renovation business on 1.5 acres at the intersection of Windermere Parkway and Towne Club Parkway.

Chairwoman Laura Semanson that in other “upscale neighborhoods” (particularly in Cobb County) the applicant has a showroom without a warehouse. “That was not something they were interested in doing (in the Windermere neighborhood).

She called the addition of a warehouse a “leap too far for Windermere Parkway, a residential corridor with neighborhood-oriented retail. That is the way it was designed to be, a high pedestrian area with children walking to South Forsyth High School and Sharon Elementary.”

Semanson made the motion to deny which was approved unanimously.

Commissioners also considered, but took no action, on the first of two required public hearings on changes to the animal control ordinance. Attorney Molly Esswein addressed the Board, saying, “One of the key motivations on this was to look at the dangerous dog, the responsible dog ownership laws the state has and coordination with our ordinance to make sure that animal services had all the tools that they need to go out and protect the public and make sure they can make those key determinations about when to classify a dog as dangerous or vicious.”

The proposed changes include a new section that deals with neglected animals and allows animal control officers to look at a case that might not necessarily rise to the level of cruelty, but may still have an impact on how animals are being treated.

Commissioners unanimously approved an amendment that allows breweries and distilleries to apply for a conditional use permit to operate in the M1 zoning district.

The Board approved by a 4-1 vote – with Commissioner Todd Levent opposed increasing the maximum building height from 50 feet to 90 feet at the Georgia Stone Products site at 4870 Leland Drive. All other votes received unanimous approval.

Commissioners also held a second public hearing on the proposed millage rate for 2021. The third public hearing will be held July 23.

Commissioner Dennis Brown read a proclamation declaring the Board’s support and appreciation for law enforcement at the local, State and federal level, and applauded their commitment to selfless service on behalf of Forsyth County, the State of Georgia and the nation.

 

 

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