FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — After a 45-minute discussion and four separate motions, the Planning Commission voted Tuesday to send the Board of Commissioners a recommendation of denial of Northpoint Capital Investment Holdings, LLC’s request to rezone 140 acres on Fowler Hill Road and Union Hill Road — but with a note requesting it be returned to the commission for additional work.

Jessica Thorsen

Commissioners felt they were close to an agreement with the residents of neighboring communities and the developer but needed more time. The county attorney said the Unified Development Code required a recommendation at Tuesday’s meeting.

Northpoint requested rezoning from Neighborhood Shopping Center (A1) and Single-Family Residential (R2R) to Master Planned District for 250 residential lots with 228 attached residential units and 63,650 square feet of commercial and 294 parking spaces.

Following a public hearing and negotiations with neighbors, commissioners believed they had an agreement on a density of 3.28 units per acre. However the developer concluded it could not do the project with a density of less than 3.4 units per acre, the difference being about 40 residential units.

“I think we’re close to an agreement — may have an agreement — but I’m not sure the people understand what they are agreeing to,” said Commissioner Nedal Shawkat. “I feel like we’re not in a good place to make a recommendation right now and with the time limitation we are backed into a corner.”

Commissioner Jessica Thorsen, who worked with developers, stakeholders and Commissioner Todd Levent on the project, wanted to recommend approval. She questioned whether it was worth the risk of losing an important development for the sake of 40 housing units.

She made a motion for approval, but it died for the lack of a second. After two more motions failed, she recommend denial with a note to commissioners to return it to the Planning Commission for additional work.