Planning Commission recommends denial of North Point development – with an asterisk
News June 29, 2022
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.
Planning Commission talks UDC modifications, conditional use permits at Tuesday meeting
Featured Stories, News October 20, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Planning Commission discussed modifications to the Unified Development Code with regard to specialized pharmacies and lighting and several requests for conditional use permits (CUP) at Tuesday’s work session.
Work sessions give commissioners a change to consider agenda items before they hold a regular meeting and make a decision on whether or not to recommend approval to the Board of Commissioners.
Typically pharmacies design medical compounds other than medical marijuana. A pharmacy that wants to become a specialty pharmacy would have to obtain a state license and a Forsyth County CUP before it could dispense medical marijuana.
There was also some consideration given to potential changes to the UDC as it relates to lighting pollution, trespass and glare.
Fill Ministries, Inc. request to build a 5,407 square foot chapel with ancillary uses, fellowship meeting hall, offices, a minister’s residence and food pantry plus a 29,991 square storage facility with 104 parking spaces on 3.03 acres in District 5 on Bennett Road sparked a lengthy discussion.
District 5 Commissioner Nedal Shawkat said, “This is a charity or non-profit that would like to not only grow aquaponic produce in greenhouses and have it distributed. They would also like to have a facility on this parcel to allow the warehousing, processing, packaging and distribution of products not produced on the premises.
“This is not an appropriate location for a commercial enterprise. It would be a welcome addition to the county in another location but intensity of use created by bringing in goods and produce from another location makes it unacceptable at this location.”
Shawkat noted that county staff is non-supportive.
Stacy Guy questioned, “When do you get to come in as a place of worship?” This feels like a faith-based non-profit. It doesn’t feel like I’m going to a place of worship.”
The commission will continue a discussion of the issue at the next meeting on Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m.