Dawsonville council approves final plat for Gold Creek villas after residents raise ordinance, maintenance and safety concerns

The Dawsonville City Council on Feb. 18 approved the final plat for the Villas at Gold Creek, a 32-unit townhouse project, voting 3-1 after extended public comment and discussion about past approvals, square-footage discrepancies and street safety.

The decision affects a final plat that the city attorney said now lists 8 units at 2,059 square feet, 8 units at 2,878 square feet and 16 units at 2,628 square feet — a total of 32 units. Earlier plans and staff notes showed different square-foot figures, and residents urged the council to enforce city ordinances and to avoid special treatment for developers.

Why it matters: The project has been in the city files for years and was previously linked to approvals dating back to a 2006 master plan and later administrative actions. Neighbors said a combination of maintenance problems at the Gold Creek entrance and what they described as inconsistent enforcement of city standards have harmed property values and public trust. Council members also flagged safety concerns where the new work meets older roadway sections.

Residents pressed the council during public input. Marilyn Sambaai, who said she lives at 660 Gold Creek Drive, told the council, "It is so sad for us to know that the elected city officials does not find that these questions are deserving of an answer," and urged enforcement of city rules. Beth Duncan, identified as the Gold Creek homeowners association president, said she spoke for residents when she urged the council to "follow the rules" and to apply ordinances consistently. Darren Disheroon, treasurer of the East Ridge homeowners association, described the clubhouse and entrance landscaping as poorly maintained and said neighbors have paid privately to maintain visible areas.

City staff and legal counsel outlined the project history. City Attorney Kevin Tallent told the council the development's master plan traces to 02/2006 and that earlier reviews and site-development approvals occurred long before the current council members took office. Tallent said the set of submitted plans included inconsistent notations about a minimum unit size that staff did not require. "We don't require that information to be disclosed on the, on on the plan. The the fact that it was disclosed was, surprising. I'm not sure why the engineer decided to disclose it," Tallent said.

Tallent and planning staff explained that earlier versions included units as small as 1,681 square feet; the developer later revised the plans and removed those smallest units before the final plat submission. City staff told the council the different plan sheets and cover-sheet notes — including a 2,228-square-foot notation that appeared on multiple plan versions — created confusion for reviewers and residents.

Public works staff also reported on a separate but related item: the portion of Gold Creek Drive where newly built curb and gutter meet older roadway. Public Works Director Trampus Sander presented field measurements showing the road width varies at different points and said the city should consider localized widening and safety improvements. Sander was directed to consult with the Gold Creek homeowners association, the East Ridge HOA and the landowner (the Turner family), to prepare a plan and cost estimate and to determine whether the Turner family would consent to any widening because the land remains private in places. Council members emphasized public safety as the principal concern.

The council vote on the final plat passed by a 3-1 tally; the transcript records the outcome as "3 yeses, 1 no" but does not identify individual votes on the record. The motion to approve the site plan was seconded by Council member Caleb Phillips. No formal amendments to the plat were recorded in the meeting minutes.

Next steps: Staff was asked to provide the road-width plan and cost estimate and to return with options for addressing the substandard section of Gold Creek Drive. The council also approved, in a separate agenda item, a contract with an outside firm to assist with planning and ordinance review (see related article).