Newnan Council cuts daycare buffer to 300 feet, approves 33-unit townhome rezoning and other measures

The Newnan City Council on May 2025 approved two major land-use items and a package of administrative and routine actions, including a contested change to the city’s zoning rules for child day care centers and a rezoning to allow a 33‑unit townhome project on Newnan Crossing Boulevard East.

The council voted 6-1 to amend the zoning ordinance’s distance requirement for child day care centers and certain related uses, shrinking the minimum separation from 1,000 feet to 300 feet while keeping a 1,000-foot buffer for any future juvenile detention facility. Planning staff said the change responds to repeated requests from potential operators and the city’s growing population of young families; opponents warned it could worsen vehicle stacking and pickup/drop-off congestion near some schools and existing day cares.

"300 feet is a similar radius difference we use for things like alcohol sales, respected churches, and substance abuse facilities," said Mr. Smith, planning staff, describing the basis for the recommendation. Smith also told the council the 300-foot measurement would be from property line to property line rather than building face to building face. Council debate focused on traffic and whether the change would invite clusters of day cares on constrained streets. The ordinance passed 6-1.

The council also approved rezoning application RZ2020Five-two, filed by Stephen L. Jones on behalf of GHV Newnan LLC, to reclassify an 8.3-acre parcel on Newnan Crossing Boulevard East from OI1 (low-density office/institutional) to RU7 (urban residential single-family) for a proposed townhome development.

Planning staff and the applicant described the concept as a capped 33-unit, fee-simple townhome community with minimum lot sizes of about 2,100 square feet and an anticipated sales range in the low-$400,000s to mid‑$500,000s. The Planning Commission recommended approval 3-2; council approval included several conditions proffered by the applicant and staff. Those conditions cap the development at 33 units, limit rental units to no more than 10% (maximum three units), and require dedications and easements to accommodate a link trail along the site.

Stephen Jones, attorney for the applicant, said the builder (Heatherland/Headley affiliate) would dedicate a fee-simple strip of land for a trail and also construct an adjacent section of link trail marked in the applicant’s materials as the "blue" section. City staff confirmed a construction credit against impact fees is an available mechanism if the developer constructs that system improvement. The council added a clarified condition that the dedicated trail area include the yellow strip shown in application materials and that a temporary construction easement (about 10 feet) might be used to complete the trail works. The rezoning motion carried by voice vote; a numerical tally was not specified during the meeting.

Other actions and votes taken by council

- Approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) from Headley Construction for six additional pickleball courts at the HOP facility, reported by staff at roughly $1.3 million. Staff said savings elsewhere in the Slossed Park projects (a Lynch contract) offset the overage by about $400,000; council approved the GMP and associated budget amendment. (Motion/second and voice approval; tally not specified.)

- Accepted the lone auction bid of $5,000 for city-owned lot at 28 Westgate Park Lane (auction held April 1). City staff said the winning bidder (Hahn) intends to build an owner-occupied home using grant funds; the Housing Authority had earlier expressed interest. Council accepted the bid by voice vote; a numerical tally was not specified.

- Authorized staff to proceed with drafting ordinance text on three topics discussed during the retreat: limits on the number/type of model homes, potential regulation of short‑term rentals, and regulations for backyard chickens. The council instructed staff and the city attorney to prepare ordinance language for future consideration.

- Denied a request from a contractor (DooleyMac) to begin a continuous concrete pour at 4 a.m. on a Saturday to avoid weekday traffic; the request was denied after residents and council members raised noise and quality‑of‑life concerns. (Motion to deny carried by voice vote; tally not specified.)

- Approved an alcohol beverage license application for Bronx Tale at 31 Market Square Road, Suite 101 (new business). (Approved by voice vote; tally not specified.)

- Approved multiple routine appointments and reappointments to city boards and commissions, including reappointments to the Newnan Urban Redevelopment Agency and youth activities: Tony Galliotto (reappointment), Gerald Walton (reappointment), Hank Arnold (appointment to unexpired term), Roy Garner (reappointment), and Michael Nix (reappointment). (All approved by voice votes.)

- Denied a request to allow construction‑hour exemptions for a large concrete pour related to the Tractor Supply project adjacent to Avery Park, after neighbors objected to a 4 a.m. start. The contractor agreed to work within normal permitted hours.

- A motion was passed to instruct staff to prepare documents for a potential lease/transaction related to 27 Clark Street and the Newnan Historical Society for council consideration at the May 13 meeting.

Meeting close and executive session

Councilmember DeBose announced he will not seek re-election to his council seat later this year and thanked colleagues and staff for two decades of service. The council then voted to enter closed session under OCGA 50‑14‑4 to discuss real estate and legal matters related to Caldwell development investments; the body said it would adopt a complying affidavit in open session after the closed session.

Why this matters

The daycare buffer change removes a long-standing locational restriction that planners and some council members said has constrained new child-care supply even as the city grows. Supporters argued the amendment will make it easier for operators to open in accessible locations; opponents warned of localized traffic stacking and urged careful site-plan review. The rezoning to allow 33 townhomes ties directly to the city’s housing supply and trail network plans: it includes land dedications and construction commitments intended to extend the city’s link trail.

What’s next

Ordinance language for the daycare buffer and other zoning changes will be codified in future documents, and the rezoning will proceed under the conditions adopted by council. Staff will return with drafted ordinances on the three retreat topics and the 27 Clark Street lease documents at the May 13 meeting. Council entered closed session for follow-up on the Caldwell development contract.