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Commission recommends light‑industrial rezoning along Ball Ground Highway with traffic conditions
Summary
The planning body recommended rezoning 35.74 acres along Ball Ground Highway to light industrial, adding three conditions focused on road improvements, restricted access to a local street and a follow‑up traffic study if development exceeds 150,000 square feet.
The Cherokee County Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning request to change 35.74 acres along Ball Ground Highway from general agricultural to light industrial, subject to three conditions addressing traffic and access.
Thomas Trawick, Cherokee County planning staff, said the site at 5100 Ball Ground Highway is mostly undeveloped, is adjacent to light industrial zoning and has streams, stream buffer and floodplain areas. Staff noted an unresolved stream buffer encroachment on the parcel and said a stream buffer restoration plan and an arborist report may be required at land‑disturbance permitting. The Cherokee County Water and Sewer Authority stated the property has access to both water and sewer. The county stormwater reviewer said quantity and quality control consistent with the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual will be required at permitting.
The applicant proposes three roughly 50,000‑square‑foot buildings with accompanying parking and full access to Ball Ground Highway; the conceptual plan shows about 411 parking spaces. The applicant's traffic study recommends a right‑turn deceleration lane into the site, a center left‑turn lane, and adequate sight distance; county transportation staff and the applicant agreed turn‑lane work would be required to county and GDOT standards where applicable.
Joel Larkin, attorney for the applicant, said the site aligns with comprehensive plan designations and surrounding industrial uses. "This property is a wonderful piece for industrial development," Larkin said.
Commissioners set three conditions before recommending approval: implement the Ball Ground Highway improvements recommended by the applicant's traffic study (and any County DOT requirements through permitting); prohibit vehicular access to Allison Lane; and require a follow‑up traffic study if the project exceeds 150,000 square feet of industrial space. Dr. Whiteside made the motion to recommend approval with those conditions; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.
Staff cautioned that Section 7.4‑10 of the county zoning ordinance states traffic generated from light industrial uses should not use local roads, which supports the proposed condition prohibiting access to Allison Lane. Staff also noted unresolved environmental constraints (stream buffer encroachment) that will be addressed at permitting.
