Planning commission recommended rezoning for Ball Ground business park; commissioners focused on road improvements and traffic‑study triggers

Cherokee County planning staff briefed commissioners on April 1 about a rezoning request for a 30.5‑acre parcel off Ball Ground Highway filed by Parks Hough for Ball Ground Business Park LLC. The Planning Commission recommended rezoning from AG (agriculture) to LI (light industrial) with three conditions intended to address traffic impacts.

Planning staff said the planning commission's recommended conditions include: (1) construction of required improvements to Ball Ground Highway per the project traffic study and Cherokee County Department of Transportation, specifically a right‑turn deceleration lane and a center left‑turn lane; (2) no vehicular access to Allison Lane from the development; and (3) an additional traffic study if the development exceeds 150,000 square feet. The county's rezoning process typically requires a traffic study for commercial or industrial projects exceeding 50,000 square feet, staff said.

Commissioners discussed whether the planning commission's language effectively requires the developer to implement turn‑lane improvements as part of the initial approvals and whether the additional traffic‑study trigger should be phrased to allow Cherokee County DOT discretion. One commissioner asked whether road improvements would be required even if the development stayed within the 150,000‑square‑foot threshold; staff and a county DOT representative said the turn‑lane work would be required, and that the additional study would be triggered if the project grows beyond the specified threshold. Commissioners suggested adding language to make clear that Cherokee County DOT may request an additional study if warranted.

The parcel plan shows three buildings of roughly 50,000 square feet apiece in a northern portion of the site, constrained by floodplain and a stream crossing. Staff noted sewer and water are available for the site. A commissioner asked whether the 150,000‑square‑foot trigger might be raised to 200,000 or 250,000 to avoid requiring an additional study for modest increases in overall building area; the developer’s representative asked for flexibility to avoid an automatic new study at 150,000, but staff reiterated that certain roadway improvements would be required under the planning commission recommendation.

Commissioners did not take a final vote on the rezoning at the work session; the presentation was for review and comment before an eventual public hearing and decision.

Ending: Staff said the county and Cherokee DOT will coordinate on wording for traffic‑study requirements and how to apply recommended mitigation measures if the project proceeds to a formal rezoning hearing.