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Developers, residents and staff spar over 162‑unit townhome proposal; commission defers final action
Summary
At the Dec. 17 Planning Commission meeting, staff recommended denial of a BTR Group proposal for 162 townhome units (Z25-036/CDP25-015) citing CDP inconsistency; developer representatives presented precedent and design, residents raised parking and traffic concerns, and the commission deferred final action to Jan. 21, 2026.
On Dec. 17, 2025 the City of South Fulton Planning Commission extensively discussed Z25-036/CDP25-015, a BTR Group proposal that would rezone agricultural land to allow 162 townhome-style units and a companion CDP amendment.
Staff told the commission it was recommending denial because the request is inconsistent with the city’s 2021 Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). Developer representatives — attorney Hakeem Hilliard and designer/developer Mac Furlough — argued the project is a transitional, lower-density townhome product that aligns with nearby, higher-density developments and would provide fenced backyards, two‑car garages and enhanced streetscape improvements. Furlough said the development across the street shows how the design can be integrated and said utilities installed for adjacent projects reduce infrastructure risk.
Marcus Carter, president of the Cooksendale Community Club Association, spoke in opposition and enumerated specific concerns: the proposed density (162 units), driveway and parking capacity, clubhouse and amenity parking, and cumulative traffic impacts from several nearby high-intensity apartment complexes. Carter told the commission those unresolved details raised doubts about whether the site could safely and practically accommodate the project as proposed.
The developer responded that driveways and garages would comply with the city's parking ordinance — "Each driveway is suited for 2 cars, and each garage is for 2 car garage" — and that buffer and streetscape changes could be made to address staff concerns. Staff and several commissioners pressed for clearer engineering, flood/drainage analysis and revised buffer plans; staff said recommendations and comments are posted a week ahead of the meeting and that applicants should work with staff during the application process.
Procedure and outcome: The commission approved the required status/finding-of-fact motion for Z25-036, then voted to defer final action to the Jan. 21, 2026 meeting to give staff and the public time to review additional renderings, parking analyses and buffer/flooding responses. No final rezoning or CDP amendment was granted at this meeting.
Next steps: The applicant was directed to submit revised plans and technical documentation to staff in advance of the Jan. 21 packet. The commission also requested that materials be specific about buffers, driveway capacity, parking counts and any stormwater/flood considerations raised during questioning.
