Canton council denies revised Longview master plan, citing unresolved concerns

The Canton City Council voted Nov. 6 to deny Master Plan MP2508-001 and CUP2508-002, a proposed redevelopment around Longview and Doctor John T. Pettit Streets that staff said would have created 124 residential units. The motion to deny was made and seconded and carried by voice vote.

Staff planning presentation described a revised plan that would limit the development to 124 units — including a minimum of 15 single-family detached homes, 39 townhomes and 70 duplex units — and listed eight recommended conditions. Those conditions included a minimum of 33% open space, a 10% rental cap enforceable by the homeowners association, and mitigation payments: $800 per unit to the Canton Housing Fund and $700 per unit to the Cherokee County Board of Education as a school-impact mitigation fee. Staff also said the developer agreed to allow the Native Plant Rescue Society pre-construction access to identify and remove endangered plants.

Council members questioned whether the revised plan sufficiently addressed prior topographical and environmental commitments tied to an earlier approval. One member said the earlier, environmentally focused infrastructure commitments would not carry forward under this new application. After discussion, a councilmember moved to deny the master plan and conditional-use permit; the motion was seconded and approved on a voice vote. The council’s vote means the revised MP2508 application will not move forward.

The decision ends the council’s consideration of this version of the project; staff had noted that, had the plan been approved, the prior master plan (MP2110-002) would have become null and void. The council did not adopt any alternate approvals during the meeting. Council and staff said they would continue to work with applicants and clarify outstanding technical details in any future submittals.

What happens next: The applicant may revise and resubmit, and any subsequent proposal will be handled as a new application subject to public notice and review. Staff had indicated it would supply additional technical responses and that specific design requirements would be addressed through later land-disturbance and permit processes.