County planning staff briefed commissioners on a proposed annexation and rezoning to the City of Canton for a 48.24‑acre property at 2829 Ball Ground Highway. The applicant, Targhee Partners LLC, seeks Canton PD mixed‑use zoning for a plan that staff said would include 194 single‑family homes for sale, about 1.3 acres of commercial use and about 7.85 acres of industrial use. The developer’s letter of intent indicates water and sewer service would be provided by Cherokee County Sewer and Water Authority and that all internal streets would be public.

Staff said the development as proposed calculates to about 4.97 dwelling units per acre and falls inside the county‑city growth boundary; Canton city council is expected to make a final decision Dec. 6. Transportation reviewers told staff Old Vandiver Road must meet county standards and that a deceleration lane and a left‑turn lane would be needed on Ball Ground Highway. Fire staff commented that the two proposed entrances must be sufficiently separated to meet the county’s emergency access (remote entrances) requirement.

Some commissioners said the plan appeared to be primarily residential and did not match the county’s future land‑use designation for a workplace center, and that the amount of commercial and industrial shown was minimal relative to the residential density. County members suggested asking Canton to reduce residential density (one commissioner suggested about 4 units per acre rather than the proposed 4.97) and to preserve buffers and improve Old Vandiver Road before development proceeds. Commissioner comments emphasized that while the parcel sits inside Canton’s growth boundary — and Canton will make the final decision — county staff would provide formal comments to Canton emphasizing density, buffer and access concerns.

Why it matters: The annexation and rezoning would convert a large undeveloped tract near I‑575 into primarily residential subdivisions, affecting traffic, emergency access, and the county’s long‑term land use aspirations for workplace center uses.