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Chattahoochee Hills Council unanimously denies three development proposals amid preservation and traffic concerns
Summary
Council voted unanimously March 3 to deny a large rezoning, a gas-station special-use permit, and a commercial concept plan after public hearings flagged tree loss, traffic safety and gaps in administrative oversight. Speakers also questioned zoning administration and historic preservation procedures.
The Chattahoochee Hills City Council on March 3 unanimously rejected three separate land-use proposals after residents and commissioners raised concerns about traffic, tree loss and procedural questions about zoning oversight.
At a public hearing on Item 25-006, which would have rezoned 273.89 acres from Rural (RL) to HM-MU (Mixed-Use Hamlet), resident Herman Hudson argued the project conflicted with the city's Unified Development Code and urged council to follow the UDC 'backwards and forwards.' Council moved to deny the rezoning; the motion passed unanimously.
Council also denied Item 25-028, a special-use permit for a proposed gas station on two parcels at Cascade Palmetto Highway and Campbellton-Fairburn Road. Multiple speakers cited traffic and safety concerns. Charles Hayes pointed to the special-use criteria in section 3.14 of the UDC and urged council to consider traffic impacts and environmental constraints; Quantrilla Ard described recurring intersection bottlenecks and urged a traffic study; Robert Espinosa emphasized the site's historic character. Council voted unanimously to deny the permit.
A separate commercial concept plan (Item 25-034, The Shops at Chattahoochee) was likewise denied by unanimous vote.
Several public commenters pressed procedural concerns. Hudson said the city lacked a functioning zoning administrator and a city arborist to enforce the UDC; minutes record that City Attorney Rick Lindsey had earlier reviewed the charter and code and noted the Zoning Administrator is appointed by the City Manager (Feb. 12 email referenced by the attorney). Councilmember Rodney Peek later stressed the city does have an arborist and a zoning administrator and asked staff to publish clarifying information.
What happens next: the denials end the active review of these specific proposals but leave open future applications that comply with the UDC. Council did not adopt any ordinance or conditions on appeal at the meeting.
