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Zoning advisory board denies conditional-use request for group home at 2063 Panola Road
Summary
After public comment for and against, the board voted to deny a conditional-use permit for a group home that would house up to 10 children, citing neighborhood impacts and notice concerns in prior reviews.
The Henry County Zoning Advisory Board voted May 8 to deny a conditional-use permit for a proposed group home at 2063 Panola Road after neighbors raised concerns about location, density and community impact.
Planner Heidi Lighthood summarized that a group home — defined in the Unified Land Development Code as a residence for two or more unrelated individuals under a resident manager — had previously been approved by the Zoning Advisory Board but was remanded back for re-notification. “Group homes must be located on a minimum of 2 acres and cannot be within a subdivision,” Lighthood said; staff recommended approval with conditions but the board considered opposition from neighbors.
Applicant Angela Hannon described the planned operation as housing for children aged 12 to 17 placed by the state, with a 1-to-5 staff-to-child ratio and 24-hour supervision. “The home is, we plan to use the home for a group home for children that are abused and neglected,” Hannon told the board. She said the house has room for 10 children and staff would always be present.
More than a half dozen neighbors spoke in opposition, voicing concerns about cumulative impacts in northern Henry County near Fairview and East Atlanta Road, proximity to schools, parks and day-care centers, and the effect on home values. Karen Jacobs of Chapel Ridge said the neighborhood is experiencing high-end residential development and asked the board to “stand with residents who believe our neighborhood is worthy of thoughtful future-oriented planning.”
A motion to deny the conditional use failed to secure an initial majority but, after additional procedural steps and a tie-break vote by the chair, the board recorded a denial. Staff advised that applicants may appeal to the Board of Commissioners; the planner also reminded the board that Fair Housing and Georgia law limit discriminatory treatment of people with protected characteristics.
The case was logged as CU2404. The record shows staff and the applicant agreed the property meets minimum acreage requirements and that state licensing and building, fire, and health approvals would be required before operation if the use were approved.
