A south Forsyth rezoning that angered some residents at a public hearing last month was approved in a split vote by Forsyth County commissioners Thursday night.
Commissioner Brian Tam presented to the board and several residents in attendance some “changes in scope and intensity” that were applied during a planning board meeting Sept. 23.
The original plan called for rezoning from residential to commercial nearly 15 acres at Peachtree Parkway (Ga. 141) and Bagley Road.
A measure to reduce that number to 6.73 acres passed 3-2, with Chairman Charles Laughinghouse and Commissioner Jim Harrell opposed.
Developers have shown interest in the property, but officials said no plans have been finalized.
Laughinghouse said it was the first he had seen the reduced site plan. He asked County Attorney Ken Jarrard if another public hearing was in order.
“Since this is a substantial change from the original site plan ... does this not lend itself to another public hearing to get input from citizens in that area?” Laughinghouse said.
Jarrard said it was for the commission to decide.
“Typically, if there was a history on this, we would as a matter of course require another public hearing if there was any sort of an increase of density, intensity or acreage,” Jarrard said.
“When it’s a reduction, that is something the board has discretion on.”
Jeff Chance, the county’s director of planning, confirmed the site plan was less intense than the original.
Tam made a motion to approve the application with other recent changes, including no access to the development on Bagley Road until a traffic signal could be installed.
About 30 residents attended the Sept. 23 meeting to oppose the project. They cited traffic concerns, a lack of speed control devices on Bagley and other issues with the proposed commercial development.
Commissioner Brian Tam presented to the board and several residents in attendance some “changes in scope and intensity” that were applied during a planning board meeting Sept. 23.
The original plan called for rezoning from residential to commercial nearly 15 acres at Peachtree Parkway (Ga. 141) and Bagley Road.
A measure to reduce that number to 6.73 acres passed 3-2, with Chairman Charles Laughinghouse and Commissioner Jim Harrell opposed.
Developers have shown interest in the property, but officials said no plans have been finalized.
Laughinghouse said it was the first he had seen the reduced site plan. He asked County Attorney Ken Jarrard if another public hearing was in order.
“Since this is a substantial change from the original site plan ... does this not lend itself to another public hearing to get input from citizens in that area?” Laughinghouse said.
Jarrard said it was for the commission to decide.
“Typically, if there was a history on this, we would as a matter of course require another public hearing if there was any sort of an increase of density, intensity or acreage,” Jarrard said.
“When it’s a reduction, that is something the board has discretion on.”
Jeff Chance, the county’s director of planning, confirmed the site plan was less intense than the original.
Tam made a motion to approve the application with other recent changes, including no access to the development on Bagley Road until a traffic signal could be installed.
About 30 residents attended the Sept. 23 meeting to oppose the project. They cited traffic concerns, a lack of speed control devices on Bagley and other issues with the proposed commercial development.