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7 Hills developer allowed to place front‑facing alley along new boulevard with landscaping condition
Summary
The committee granted Artisan Built Communities a waiver to construct a front‑facing alley serving nine lots adjacent to a planned boulevard in 7 Hills, subject to a landscape buffer and requirement for front‑entry garages.
Paulding County’s Development Waiver Review Committee approved a request from Artisan Built Communities to allow a 22‑foot private alley in front of homes that border a planned boulevard in the 7 Hills area.
Joel Larkin, representing Artisan, said the front alley design responds to a constrained site adjacent to a closed landfill, powerline easement and streams. Under the Unified Development standards the county’s alley definition and layout rules would not normally allow an alley in the front yard; Artisan requested waivers to development regulation 2.2 (alley definition) and the layout requirement in section 5.4 0.8. Larkin described the layout as nine conventional lots that would front the boulevard but take vehicle access from a 22‑foot private alley with an 8‑foot separation from the boulevard right of way to allow water meters and landscaping.
Cal McShan, representing Artisan, said additional temporary parking was included to support a model home location and that the alley would be private and maintained by the homeowners association. Larkin and McShan said the alley will operate two‑way and that the project will use the same boulevard landscaping and fencing treatments already approved in 7 Hills.
No members of the public spoke in opposition at the hearing; county staff reported several calls and in‑person inquiries prior to the meeting. Committee members asked whether turnarounds could be provided; Artisan said the lots’ required 20‑foot setbacks and the constrained site made turnarounds impractical for this block. The developer agreed to the committee’s request for boulevard‑consistent landscaping between the boulevard and the alley.
A motion to approve the waivers passed unanimously with two stipulations: front‑entry garages for homes facing the alley and landscaped enhancement between the alley and the boulevard. The committee recorded the stipulations in the approval and noted the alley will remain private and maintained by the HOA. The developer will include landscaping and fence details in final civil plans and the HOA covenants.
