Commission grants curb/sidewalk waiver for West Fifteenth townhomes and approves conditional-use for Midway Manor event center

The board granted two planning items forwarded by the county planning staff and the Planning Commission.

Waiver for 15 West townhomes: RTS Homes requested a waiver from the county's subdivision requirement to install curb, gutter and sidewalk along an approximately 1,500-foot frontage on Curtis Road for a proposed 74-townhome development that sits largely adjacent to wetlands and a planned detention area. Planning staff and county engineers recommended the waiver, noting the cross-section and drainage along Curtis Road would require costly utility relocations and possible later rework if the roadway is widened in the future. Commissioners approved the waiver by motion and vote.

Conditional use for event center / bed-and-breakfast (Midway Manor): The board approved a conditional-use permit for an event hall and bed-and-breakfast at 2762 Leroy Cofer Highway, where the applicants plan an event pavilion, gazebo and caretaker dwelling; the Planning Commission had recommended approval with standard conditions. County staff said the project will be required to secure a commercial driveway permit from the Georgia Department of Transportation and to meet county standards for parking and septic/health requirements. The applicant said they expect to limit events for capacity and work with county staff on driveway alignment.

Why it matters: Both approvals are administrative land-use decisions that allow projects to proceed to site-plan and permitting stages; the waiver decision was made based on site constraints and on the planning commission's prior handling of similar RTS projects, while the Midway Manor conditional use opens a private event and small lodging business subject to county and GDOT permits.