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Planning commission recommends annexation and approves rezoning of Hembridge Road parcels with undisturbed buffer stipulation
Summary
The commission recommended annexation of roughly 4.22 acres off Hembridge Road (A 03-2025) and approved a rezoning (MA 07-2025) from county classifications to General Commercial City with stipulations including a 40-foot undisturbed eastern buffer and a 20-foot southern buffer; the county invoked the state arbitration process over two residential parcels.
The Holly Springs City Planning Commission considered two linked proposals for property off Hembridge Road on March 20: A 03-2025, a petition by applicants Rebecca Eddy and Suzanne Graham to annex approximately 4.22 acres into the city, and MA 07-2025, a request to rezone those parcels to GC (General Commercial City).
Planning staff outlined surrounding land uses — including Walmart and other General Commercial zones — and recommended approval with conditions including a 40-foot undisturbed buffer along the eastern property line and a 20-foot undisturbed buffer along the southern line adjacent to Harbor Creek Apartments. Staff also noted Cherokee County met and objected to annexation of the two R-20 residential parcels and invoked the Department of Community Affairs arbitration process; staff told the commission that under state law the city may hold a public hearing and make a recommendation, but the city council cannot take a final action on annexation until the arbitration is complete.
Multiple residents and property owners addressed the commission in public comment, telling the commission the area contains steep topography, a creek and a waterfall, and narrow county roads that have been blocked by large trucks. Louise Keith, who lives adjacent to the proposed rezoning area, said the applications amount to "jurisdiction shopping" and urged denial or a 90-day continuance to allow traffic engineering, environmental, and geotechnical studies.
Commission action: The commission voted to recommend annexation (A 03-2025); minutes record a numeric vote of "3 1" (three in favor, one opposed). For MA 07-2025 the commission voted to approve the rezoning with staff recommendations and an added stipulation that the two residential lots (tax parcels 025 and 026 of Tax Plat 15 and 13D) remain as undisturbed buffers; the motion carried unanimously.
Next steps and limitations: Because Cherokee County invoked the arbitration process through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the city council cannot issue a final decision on annexation until arbitration is concluded. The rezoning recommendation will be forwarded to city council for final action after the statutory process is complete.
