Hall County commissioners approve Prairie Valley PUD amendment to allow larger house footprints

The Hall County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 24 approved an amendment to the Prairie Valley planned unit development and subdivision plat to increase allowable impervious surface on 3‑acre lots.

Planning staff described the amendment as a response to market demand: the originally approved limit of 6,000 square feet of impervious surface per lot was found sufficient by the engineer, but developers sought more flexibility. Planning staff said engineers updated calculations showing 12,000 square feet of impervious surface would not negatively affect drainage and that lots could be allowed up to 20,000 square feet with engineered on‑site detention and lot‑level design.

Developer counsel Zach Butts told the board the change reflected buyer demand and that the project team had provided technical documentation to show drainage impacts would not worsen. "The only fundamental change is that increased size…Basically, we can put roofs over a little bit more of the land," Butts said, asking the board to approve the amendment as presented.

Planning commission had held a public hearing and recommended approval. After the county’s public hearing and limited public comments, the board voted to approve the resolution amending the final development plan and final subdivision plat for Prairie Valley (recorded in the meeting as Resolution No. 26‑O2). A motion to approve was made, seconded and carried with a 7–0 vote.

The amendment includes a uniform 30‑foot setback around lots and confirms that impervious surface includes roofs and paving (but not gravel). For coverage exceeding 12,000 square feet on a lot, the applicant must design and record on‑site detention systems as part of the permit process.

What’s next: if recorded, the developer will sign the new subdivision agreement, file it against the lots and proceed with marketing and permitting under the amended coverage limits.