Planned development for 69 townhomes, 10 ADUs proposed on Gaines School Road draws public concern over traffic, density and stormwater

Developers proposing a planned development called Cedar Ridge on 450 and 460 Gaines School Road presented a plan for 69 fee‑simple townhomes, 10 accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and roughly 10,000 square feet of commercial space on about eight acres at a March 18 meeting of the Athens‑Clarke County Commission.

Bruce from the Planning Department outlined the application: the project requests a future‑land‑use amendment (Main Street Business across the site), a rezone to RM‑2 mixed‑density residential with a planned development overlay and related special‑use approvals for parts of the Gainesville Road corridor and the airport overlay. The applicant asked for six development waivers; staff and the Planning Commission recommended four of the waivers and denied two (notably a waiver for front porch orientation and a waiver of the 25% fenestration requirement facing the street).

The plan proposes an internal street extension (Woody Lane) connecting to Gainesville Road, on‑street parking and…