[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6541115,"mediaKeyId","3660297-45685ee1e27bb35053f4bd6a74b38a4e","parentId",3660297,"title","Planning commission denies rezoning to split Land Road parcel after neighborhood opposition","audioSeconds",1499,"startMs",3221735,"endMs",4721545,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3660297-45685ee1e27bb35053f4bd6a74b38a4e&start=3221&end=4721","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3660297-45685ee1e27bb35053f4bd6a74b38a4e/thumbnail_3221735.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6541115/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Planning-commission-denies-rezoning-to-split-Land-Road-parcel-after-neighborhood-opposition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541115-38dd1d4c5064d32f20aef12e9e073ce5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770789931&Signature=Ujorhz8~Ovb~4PNQ~z4hjh02VC7FYK8aAAGQb3EZXeqn2Y~pNOHMnJ~EvRU~FdcJusXPTl2Epn7NBjLkKbaoKRKHNI-Zr6osmVldiRHSjW47zpdxidzVhv~u03zY~OTRyUxgJvLldlq5BBovwg40aqAxLmUT51K3GgpdaW7J6jICYANYVPfbmv5W~yn56HKe~nV5lgutGra9KMCGnX9Lpqd5t~N8EKJ5C8LvqyFK9wP~Q17LNeeHrauGwW9WWRNsGPmLN5WbE7v5-qJlBVTUAp-lGhxfRKmf7f23-JFZ4SmwK1cZCjyD4-SGQB5wvETOBm2fSxJpY9kBBrQ7hneddg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cherokee ","date","2025-06-03T20:40:00Z","article","The Cherokee County Planning Commission voted 7‑1 to deny a request to rezone a 2.32‑acre parcel on Land Road from agricultural (AG) to R‑40 to allow subdivision into two 1.16‑acre lots.

What was proposed: The applicant, who said the plan would create two lots and build one home for a family member while selling the other, submitted soil testing that indicated septic systems would be feasible for the parcels and said water service is available from the City of Wolosko. The applicant offered to increase side setbacks so houses would be centered on the lots if that would address community concerns.

Resident opposition: Five neighbors and adjacent landowners spoke in opposition, citing the county’s Rural Places character designation and Article 7 District Uses and Regulations. Speakers described active agricultural uses near the site — hay fields, horse farms, animal husbandry and hunting leases — and said spot rezoning would establish a precedent that would erode the community’s rural character. Kim Russo, a Clayton community resident, told the commissioners she had preserved land so her daughter could return to the family home and added, \"I purchased enough land for her to do that. I'm not asking for any variances.\" Other neighbors described long family ties to the area and urged the commission to maintain the land‑use plan.

Commission discussion: Commissioners said the proposed split mirrored a pattern they did not want to encourage and expressed concern about creating a precedent that would encourage further parcel‑by‑parcel downzoning in the Clayton community. One commissioner noted that similar small lots exist nearby but said allowing the change here would trigger a cascade of requests.

Outcome and next steps: A motion to deny the rezoning passed 7‑1. The recommendation will be reflected in the planning record and forwarded to the Board of Commissioners; the applicant may revise the request, pursue a different zoning classification, or withdraw.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cherokee - Planning Commission Public Hearing - Jun 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission voted 7-1 to deny a request to rezone a 2.32‑acre parcel on Land Road from agricultural to R‑40 so the owner could split it into two 1.16‑acre lots. Neighbors said the change contradicts the rural places character area and urged the commission to uphold the land use plan.","taxTitle","Cherokee County, Georgia","taxId",12793,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541119,"Commission approves R‑20 conservation rezoning for Woodstock Road site; conservation variances denied",2281,1030075,3311184,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3660297-45685ee1e27bb35053f4bd6a74b38a4e&start=1030&end=3311","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3660297-45685ee1e27bb35053f4bd6a74b38a4e/thumbnail_1030075.jpg","/articles/6541119/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Commission-approves-R20-conservation-rezoning-for-Woodstock-Road-site-conservation-variances-denied","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541119-49ce9d0408a5b3281b3377dce5fdde29/orig.mp4?Expires=1770789931&Signature=JlyZvF9Iy63ol10D7nrspRHyYqGZl9bxC33dp5YnRsGadnOYufUm~sWvXKcq1nyL5AfRtc2-Td4sr~fTFwB01yb1fdnzYZqgqLIW3ceUS~eFtHrDxk87aJJusWPZrVggosc0t2VPu6Ph1CJy-cmP3XHMWTxoXP2tk4Lq3t54eJr8kMmNC~pDTxpdDRh75iHy-BfXw~GBXTsViShajpSD-G9xQDfYNLidBZ6bsx-TD~L458guBdUVa9Fh-GARlZzHLuKKGZ~e3B8Zl6vf0c5jps99FNrbo2JZRwzuLhBcolP6cJv65FI7Yk4UH~F8hBg5S8AokDiNWZk8dNwyG6bFsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cherokee County Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning 33.88 acres at 6380 and 6390 Woodstock Road from R‑40 to an R‑20 conservation subdivision, approving the rezoning 7-1. The site was proposed for a 46‑lot conservation subdivision at an overall density of 1.35 units per acre.

Why it matters: Staff and the applicant framed the request as a conservation design that concentrates lots in a smaller buildable footprint to preserve stream corridors (Kellogg Creek) and channel disturbance. Applicant representatives asked for several concurrent variances to allow grading of green space strips, reduce access strip widths and permit some lots to encroach into primary conservation areas, including stream buffers and parts of the 100‑year floodplain.

Applicant Parks Huff, of law firm Sam's Larkin and Huff, representing Grand Communities LLC, repeatedly emphasized the project’s proposed density. \"One fact I want you to remember...1.35 units per acre,\" Huff told the commission, saying the conservation layout would avoid crossing Kellogg Creek and would result in fewer disturbed acres compared with a conventional layout.

Staff noted site constraints including streams and floodplain and said an R‑20 conservation layout can preserve open space while maintaining the allowable overall density. Transportation staff reported an annual average daily traffic (AADT) of about 8,700 at the Woodstock Road location and said sight‑distance easements or a left‑turn lane might be required per GDOT standards. The local school district estimated about 34 additional students from the subdivision and requested mitigation discussions with the applicant.

Commissioners expressed support for conservation design in principle but repeatedly voiced concern about the specific variances requested. Several commissioners said the requests appeared driven by lot‑count and layout preferences rather than genuine topographic or environmental constraints, and planners and an arborist warned that narrow green‑space access strips can confuse lot buyers and lead to future encroachments of accessory structures.

After approving the rezoning, the commission separately considered the requested variances. The commission voted to recommend denial of the variance to allow house lots to encroach into primary conservation areas (vote 8‑0), and similarly recommended denial of variances to allow disturbance of a 50‑foot green space and to reduce green space access strips to less than 50 feet.

Conditions and next steps: Staff recommended that, as part of final approvals, the developer provide right of way and easements necessary for a Kellogg Creek bridge project and coordinate with county engineering on entrance improvements, including a potential left‑turn lane. The rezoning recommendation will move to the Board of Commissioners; the denied variances will shape which conservation‑design features must be revised before final approval.

","The Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning to R‑20 conservation for a 33.88‑acre site on Woodstock Road (46 lots, 1.35 units/acre), voting 7-1 for rezoning while separately recommending denial of several conservation variances that would have allowed lots to encroach into stream buffers and floodplain.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6541123,"Planning panel recommends denial of Pea Ridge subdivision rezoning after community questions",1012,160,1012235,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3660297-45685ee1e27bb35053f4bd6a74b38a4e&start=0&end=1012","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3660297-45685ee1e27bb35053f4bd6a74b38a4e/thumbnail_160.jpg","/articles/6541123/Cherokee-County/Georgia/Planning-panel-recommends-denial-of-Pea-Ridge-subdivision-rezoning-after-community-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6541123-f4384f097658bf04dd91d13008ce8930/orig.mp4?Expires=1770789931&Signature=m5xeX4p59DXb~WCYvVh9pwu0lhQl4GJEeI7esqxKeh3jRSuY30pMM7SmaXZ6K5GjPoo2vJj~Ghb7ys~oKqKDBVMCh~pt9os3cm7LgmQnWxyucVRuTjzO~NXieoCuqkNS4f1cneLMyOf1zpN29~rckCeYtTUHQsVnmYGoAG0ZIGYaJHb0ZtH4qBItcKjz2F1gdOjxVSyl~1njJwr5xCL8nTPX32NBPQFfD2WM-vbTq1y64Tl013D~TwxVNjuFJYMbcNowZZ6X2hIDke~ZMjSo0f8gNS6KnJGoZWlEepxqdI4c80cczz3yCoM3zz4le5BIcjPHKDBQ9-ujxqZXzZ1jow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cherokee County Planning Commission on an advisory vote recommended denial of a rezoning and variance package for a proposed subdivision on Pea Ridge Road, voting 7-0 to recommend denial.

The developer told the commission the project would provide sewer service to the Charlie Ferguson Community Center, donate one acre for a neighborhood park and grant additional right of way to create a 50-foot Pea Ridge Road frontage. The applicant also pledged a payment to the Cherokee County School District of $1,000 per lot; a speaker at the hearing said that would total roughly $215,000.

Why it matters: The proposal included six separate variance requests tied to stream buffers, internal buffers between zoning districts, lot widths and setbacks. Neighbors and community leaders asked the commission to delay action because questions remained about affordability, historic preservation, park construction and long-term maintenance.

At the public hearing, Tanish Baron Welch, Volunteer Executive Director of the Charlie Ferguson Community Center, said he did not intend to block the project but asked for more time to answer outstanding questions about affordability, park maintenance and the future of the Ralph Bunche Center — a neighborhood facility tied to local history. \"I am simply requesting a delay because there are too many numerous open items that still need to be explored,\" Welch said.

The applicant and project representatives argued the plan was intended to enable sewer access for the community and described design reasons for several variance requests. They said topography and large stream buffers constrain where lots and homes can be located, and that shifting homes toward the center of lots would avoid high retaining walls and uninviting blank façades next to neighbors.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on the legal basis for the variances and on traffic and density concerns. One commissioner said he was \"most concerned about the traffic\" at the intersection of State Route 140 and Pea Ridge Road and worried about morning congestion near a nearby church. Another commissioner said the proposed RZL classification was a step too far for the living-character area and moved to deny.

The commission’s motion to recommend denial passed 7-0. The action was advisory to the Board of Commissioners, and the record shows the planning commission declined to support the rezoning and concurrent variances as presented.

What happens next: The planning commission’s recommendation will be transmitted per normal procedure to the county decision-makers for final action or further review. The applicant can revise the plan, address outstanding questions raised in public comment, or pursue other procedural options to advance the project.

","The Cherokee County Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend denial of a rezoning request for a proposed Pea Ridge subdivision after questions about variances, infrastructure and community impacts and a public plea to delay the matter for further study.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission denies rezoning to split Land Road parcel after neighborhood opposition

Commission approves R‑20 conservation rezoning for Woodstock Road site; conservation variances denied

Planning panel recommends denial of Pea Ridge subdivision rezoning after community questions