Commissioners send Pea Ridge rezoning back for more public input, set rehearing for Aug. 19

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners on July 1 voted unanimously to schedule a rehearing on a contested rezoning application in the Pea Ridge area and to require an additional public information meeting before that August 19 hearing.

The application (Case No. 205-6167) seeks rezoning of roughly 62 acres in the Pea Ridge community for a mix of RD3 and RZL residential development. Planning staff summarized the request as a split-zoning proposal: about 41.38 acres requested to change from R40 to RD3 and approximately 20.78 acres from R40 to RZL. The applicant also sought six variances including reduced lot widths, reduced setbacks, and modifications to required alley access and buffer requirements. The Planning Commission recommended denial at its public hearing.

Chair (unnamed) — acting for the District 1 seat, which is vacant — said the proposal appears to be in “substantial conformance” with the county land-use plan if the applicant moves to a full RD3 proposal (three units per acre), and he proposed the rehearing to allow alternatives to denial. Commissioner Wetherby said, “I would like to see another public information meeting. I think the community is entitled to that,” and the board approved a motion by the chair, seconded by Commissioner Carter, to set the rehearing for Aug. 19 and to hold a public information meeting beforehand.

Why it matters: The property sits near Reservoir Drive and the busy four-lane section of Reservoir/Highway 92, adjacent to multifamily development and the Cherokee High School entrance. Commissioners cited traffic access, road safety and alignment concerns — particularly at the intersection of Pea Ridge Road and Highway 140 — as issues to be resolved before final action. Staff and the Fire Marshal discussed gating or restricted access as interim measures until intersection improvements are completed.

Next steps: Planning staff will schedule the public information meeting and collect revised materials; the board directed that the case return to the regular meeting on Aug. 19. Commissioners also noted the county’s ongoing CDAP small-area plan (funded through the Atlanta Regional Commission) that will provide additional study of the Pea Ridge area and could inform final decisions.