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Residents urge council to halt Bouckaert rezoning as first reading proceeds
Summary
At a July 1 Chattahoochee Hills council meeting, a dozen residents pressed elected officials to slow or reject a large rezoning request tied to Bouckaert Farms, calling studies "sloppy" and warning of major population and tax impacts. The rezoning (Item 25-036) was presented as a first reading only.
Dozens of residents used the public-comment period at the July 1 Chattahoochee Hills City Council meeting to urge the council to slow or reject a large rezoning tied to Bouckaert Farms and DMB Development.
Ray Broadhead, a Serenbe resident, asked whether the city's future should be measured in "dollar signs or quality of life," warning that many local residents are retired or on fixed incomes and asking, "Who needs a shopping mall?" Leone Broadhead cited a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) she said was dated May 29, 2025, and told the council the project could add 16,828 housing units — a figure she said would translate to about 57,900 people using a standard occupancy metric.
Several speakers described the application materials as incomplete. Mitchell Wolff said the public is "being played," calling the application and related studies "sloppy, incomplete, and misleading," and urged the council to pursue a referendum so residents could vote on the project's future.
City staff listed Item 25-036 on the agenda as a first reading only: a rezoning request for 7,848.25 acres from RL (rural) to HM-MU (hamlet mixed-use) submitted by DMB Development, LLC on behalf of Cosmos Stock Holdings, LLC; GAIA, LLC; and Oracle Fulton Land, LLC. The council did not take a final vote on the rezoning at the July 1 meeting.
Councilmembers responded to public concerns during the comments portion of the meeting. Several members reiterated that the city's zoning and comprehensive-planning processes have been extensive over time and that first readings do not effect immediate rezoning changes. Mayor Tom Reed and others encouraged respectful engagement while pointing to prior comp-plan processes and public participation.
The debate framed two competing views among residents: many urged strict limits on large-scale rezoning to protect rural character and limit tax and traffic impacts, while others — including speakers who said they want local services and housing options — asked the city to balance preservation with plans that accommodate future generations.
Next steps: Item 25-036 remained a first reading on July 1; the council will consider subsequent public hearings, planning-commission review and future votes according to the city's notice and meeting schedule.
