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Rezoning for park site clears planning board
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Forsyth County News

Property on Hwy. 141, some of which Forsyth County may buy as green space, was part of a rezoning request Tuesday night.

The Forsyth County Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend the 155-acre site be rezoned from agricultural to a master planned district. Planning board member Brant Meadows did not attend the meeting.

The recommendation goes next to the county commission, which has final say on such matters.

Known as the Arlene Harrison estate, the property borders Hwy. 141 at Brookwood and Caney roads.

The county commission was expected to discuss buying about 60 acres of the property on Nov. 20, but postponed discussion of the matter until Dec. 4.

Nearby residents and members of Smart Growth Forsyth County opposed the request, citing environmental and other concerns with plans for the property, and asked the planning board to postpone a decision.

Planning Commission Chairwoman Pam Livesay disagreed, saying she thinks issues surrounding the plans should be rectified by the county commission.

"I think this needs to be moved ahead with all of the issues that we here on our board can not even consider," Livesay said.

"I think it needs to be moved on so the board of commissioners can look at the conditions that have been agreed on by the applicant, can look at some of the conditions that have not and are still outstanding, along with the issue of park space, which we can not consider here."

Local attorney Emory Lipscomb spoke Tuesday night on behalf of the property owners.

He said plans call for a mixed-use project that includes about 634,500 square feet of commercial development, 183 houses and 141 town homes.