Other action
Also during its meeting Thursday, Forsyth County’s planning board recommended approval of the following:
* A request by Silver City Baptist Church for a conditional use permit to build a 10,000-square-foot family life center addition to an existing 14,860-square-foot church with 68 parking spaces on 8 acres.
The vote was 3-2, with representatives Jayne Iglesias of District 2 and Greg Dolezal of District 3 voting against. Both stated they didn’t oppose the request, instead citing a lack of information to proceed.
* Sawnee Dog Retreat LLC’s request for a conditional use permit to operate a 4,121-square-foot dog kennel with six parking spaces on 2 acres.
The family business has opened, but the owners were unaware they needed to apply for the permit. The vote was 4-1, with District 4’s Alan Neal opposed.
-- Kayla Robins
SOUTH FORSYTH — A contentious rezoning application to bring a 189-home subdivision to South Clement Road was recommended for approval by Forsyth County’s planning board.
Though residents, who packed the meeting room Tuesday night, were dismayed at what was proposed for the 90 acres between the Creekstone neighborhoods, just west of where Peachtree Parkway and Old Alpharetta Road fork, they secured what they deemed would be a compromise. The 3-2 vote was for a single-family residential, or Res-2, zoning.
Applicant Chris Kliros had requested a Res-3 zoning from the current agricultural district, or A1. That would allow him to develop 189 lots with a density of 2.1 units per acre, 73 of which would have a minimum lot size of 15,000 square feet. The remaining lots would be at least 10,000 square feet.
Res-2 zoning requirements call for lower density, bringing the maximum number of lots for this development to about 125.
Planning representatives Pam Bowman (District 1) and Greg Dolezal (District 3) supported the switch from Res-3 to Res-2 brought by Jayne Iglesias, whose District 2 encompasses the property. Alan Neal of District 4 and District 5’s Robert Hoyt voted against the recommendation.
The county commission, for which the planning board is a recommending body, is expected to hear the proposal Aug. 20.
During the public hearing Thursday, attorneys for both Kliros and the Creekstone homeowners association hinted at possible legal action.
Kliros agreed to reduce the number of lots to 166, but would not commit to any conditions without a Res-3 zoning, citing a loss of more than $2 million by building and selling just 125 homes.
The Creekstone HOA president, David Merwin, said Res-2 was a necessary decision to ensure the safety of drivers in the area and to protect crowded south Forsyth schools.
No matter what zoning is approved, he said a traffic light is needed on Peachtree Parkway and Old Alpharetta.
The Georgia Department of Transportation requires a need be established before a light is installed, in much the same way the state education department requires a school top its capacity before a new one is built.
A traffic study, however, reportedly showed that a light is not yet warranted.
But Kliros said he is willing to pay for the light if that decision is reversed and once the subdivision is built — under a Res-3.