Cumming planners postpone Hoff Homes annexation while Forsyth County review remains pending

The Cumming Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 18 postponed consideration of Hoff Homes LLC’s petition to annex and rezone two parcels totaling about 4.97 acres, saying Forsyth County had not yet provided a formal objection or approval.

Todd Vanderhoff, who identified himself as an owner of the property, told the commission the request covers two parcels—one of about 4.53 acres that contains existing apartments and a corner lot of roughly 0.44 acres—and noted the property has been under his ownership since 2013. "We bought the property back in 2013," Vanderhoff said, describing the site as older multifamily units that the owners have been upgrading.

Staff reported the parcels (property identification numbers 128-071 and 128-068, commonly known as 3300 Hudson Road and 3215 Casselberry Road) were proposed to be rezoned from Forsyth County multifamily residential R-3 and Agricultural A-1 to the city’s multifamily residential R-3. The staff report said the future land-use designation is high-density residential and that the annexation/rezone request is in conformance with the city’s comprehensive plan. The report also noted Forsyth County had provided the required five-day receipt letter but had not yet stated whether it would object; staff said the county has up to 45 days to respond.

Commission discussion focused on the pending county response and on outstanding site-plan and review-committee items staff expects before final action. Commissioners made a motion to postpone annexation/rezone application 2025002 to the March meeting pending the county’s written response and additional site information; the motion carried.

Key technical and clarifying details presented to the commission included that the existing complex contains 20 rental units, current rents in the existing units run about $1,200 to $1,400 per month, the apartments were built in the 1980s, the site is currently on septic but has possible sewer tap locations behind the property and across the street, and applicants said they might add roughly six units on the remaining undeveloped area depending on code allowances.

Next steps: the item was postponed to the March meeting. Staff said it would notify the applicant when Forsyth County submits its written position and that additional design and site-plan materials would be required before final action.