Henry County OKs ULDC change and rezones 1,277-acre Grove site with conditions after hours of public comment

The Henry County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a countywide amendment to the Unified Land Development Code and rezoned roughly 1,277.6 acres along Highway 1941 North for a mixed‑use project called The Grove, while directing additional limits on multifamily housing and rentals.

Chair Carlotta Harrell opened the meeting by disclosing she had no personal interest in the rezoning discussion: “I, Chair Carlotta Harrell, have no personal interest in this matter and will not benefit from the approval or denial of this application.” The board then voted to permit development agreements in resource‑protected areas through the ULDC amendment (ULDC AM‑24‑03) and approved the rezoning (RZ‑24‑27) from multiple residential and commercial districts to a single mixed‑use designation, subject to reductions in multifamily units and a lower rental cap.

The vote clears a path for a proposed 40‑year master plan by Henry County Land Company LLC and its developer partner GSM Capital. The Grove, as presented, would include a mix of single‑family and multifamily housing, more than 2 million square feet of commercial space, a 180‑room hotel, and 150 acres of open space. Staff said the proposal would allow a gross residential density of about 5.6 units per acre and not exceed 8 units per acre net, consistent with the county’s low‑density mixed‑use future land‑use designation.

Why it matters: The ULDC amendment creates a mechanism — development agreements — that gives the county and developer more flexibility to create a single, long‑term regulatory framework for a very large, phased project. Supporters argue a master plan can deliver coordinated infrastructure, retail and a potential medical facility; opponents warned of risks to water quality, traffic, and local schools.

What the board approved and next steps The board first approved the ULDC amendment to allow development agreements in portions of resource protection areas, and staff recommended the change as consistent with an ongoing countywide ULDC rewrite. Commissioner Lewis moved to approve the ULDC amendment; the motion carried. The board later…