Woodlands seeks MXD rezoning for mixed‑use project at 699 Newnan Crossing Bypass; traffic signal likely needed, consultants say

Woodlands Acquisitions LLC presented a rezoning request (RZ2025‑10) to rezone about 13.55 acres at 699 Newnan Crossing Bypass from General Commercial (CGN) to MXD (Mixed‑Use Development) to allow a project with 12 three‑bed townhomes, 272 multifamily rental apartments and approximately 7,500 square feet of ground‑floor commercial space.

Chris Cole, senior planner, summarized the concept plan and unit mix and told the council the Planning Commission had held a Jan. 13 public hearing and voted unanimously to recommend denial. Representatives from Woodlands — Bennett Wooten and Kevin Wood — described a mixed‑use layout with ground‑floor retail, apartments above, internal walking trails and a planned circular pedestrian connection to the existing link trail and the Wood Partners project to the north.

Woodlands said the project includes a targeted residential breakdown of roughly 166 one‑bedroom units (average ~786 sq ft), 106 two‑bedroom units (average ~1,170 sq ft) and 12 three‑bedroom townhomes (about 1,637 sq ft each), with proposed rents near $1,750 (one‑bed), $2,050 (two‑bed) and $2,600 (three‑bed townhome). The developers said all units would be rental and that the project lies in an Opportunity Zone, which they said supports a longer‑term hold strategy.

Councilors asked about public access to the proposed trail connection. Woodlands said they have a letter from Wood Partners expressing willingness to cooperate and that they are pursuing an easement from City of Hope to enable a direct connection. Civil engineer Chad Lambeth said the plan provides roughly 505 parking spaces, meeting the cited ratios (about 1.5 spaces per multifamily unit plus townhome garages and driveways) and that there is room to add guest parking in certain areas.

Traffic consultant Vern Wilburn told the council his corridor‑level analysis of Newnan Crossing, Lower Fayetteville Road and surrounding intersections — accounting for approved nearby projects such as Wood Partners and the Subaru and Volkswagen dealerships — indicates the main intersection near the project would not operate acceptably under existing control and that signalization would be needed for the network to function. "You would have to signalize it in order for that to work with all of that development," Wilburn said. Woodlands said it would be willing to pay for signalization if required by permitting.

As with the other rezoning discussed in the workshop, the Planning Commission’s denial and staff comments leave the matter unresolved. No council vote was taken in the workshop; staff and the developer discussed next steps including the advertised public hearing and the potential for a continuance so that staff can review revised materials and the Planning Commission can be provided an opportunity to reassess any alternate plan.

Next steps: the rezoning will proceed to the advertised public hearing; councilors and staff signaled they will review mitigation commitments for traffic, access easements and trail connections before any final council action.