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A small portion of the planned subdivision between Liberty Hill and Fairview Roads in Hartwell.
Hartwell’s planning and zoning commission voted Tuesday to recommend to the city council the annexation of the 274-acre parcel at the site of a proposed subdivision between Liberty Hill and Fairview Roads in Hartwell.
If built out the development is planned to bring about 1,000 homes to Hartwell but has raised concerns about responsible growth from various Hartwell factions.
The non-binding board also recommended that the parcel, planned for development by Kenny Whitworth and Brandt Bentley, be zoned R1 Single Family Residential – which zoning administrator Jason Ford said is “the city’s most restrictive zoning classification.”
Additionally, the commission added several conditions including conditions recommended by Georgia Mountain Regional Commission’s Development of Regional Impact. The recommended conditions are summarized as follows:
•Provide Operating Agreement to clarify party responsibilities in the petition
•Single family residential – detached/attached
•Density – Per R1 zoning and health department requirements – two units per acre to accommodate service delivery in regards to septic tank requirements. In all other areas, 2.9 units per acre after the design achieves compatibility with existing neighborhood designs, and after the green space, public spaces, and roads are designed allowing for 30 feet undisturbed setbacks on the circumference of the property, as well as additional setbacks from all water sources addressed specifically in subsequent conditions (ponds, creeks, etc.).
•Phased development over a minimum of 10 years – start using the conceptual site plan as a marker, complete all infrastructure for the entire project and then develop housing methodically by area.
•Per GMRC recommendations – additional roads in the neighborhood will need to be built as well as additional improvements to existing roadways including sidewalks, curbs, and gutter.
•Per GMRC recommendations - Complete a traffic study with GDOT or “other traffic engineers” at the intersections State Road 77 and Liberty Hill Road and State Road 8 and Oakview Trail to bring road conditions to GDOT standards. Based on this study it is possible that a mitigation of traffic may require additional access points, a redirection of traffic, or possibly a reduction in the number of proposed units.
•Complete all subdivision petitions in public hearings including any minor subdivisions as defined by the City of Hartwell Code of Ordinances.
•Per GMRC recommendations - Internal pedestrian amenities such as sidewalks and proposed trail/greenway should connect to the Hart County Recreation Center and the high school.
•Per GMRC recommendations - the developer must maximize efforts to retain the integrity of Little Cedar Creek via a 50 feet buffer and other measures to prevent further contamination risk for the body of water. The same buffer should be in place around the pond that is central to the property.
•The area on the conceptual plan provided marked “future growth” should remain as a passive greenspace area to provide additional buffer to the county recreation area.
•Increase passive greenspace area on the side of the proposed road in the development nearest to the Botanical Garden, a 100 ft. undisturbed buffer.
•Per GMRC recommendations - the developer should consider cooperation with the County Parks and Recreation Area concerning not only access to the land but also possible set asides for future park development.
•55-plus community housing in two areas of development
• Hardy plank, brick, stick built
• Encourage housing product based on median household income for the area.
•Require HOA for maintenance of common areas.
•All conditions are in perpetuity regardless of owner.
•Require bonds from developer for roads.
On the planning commission, Carter Schell, Lenford Smith, Michelle Wetherbee and Jermaine Durham voted in favor of the annexation, zoning and conditions. Erin Gaines, Tina Howard and Mary Gidley opposed.
Last month, the Hart County Board of Commissioners formally submitted an objection to the annexation and zoning proposal to the State Department of Community Affairs. Hartwell City Council cannot discuss an ordinance regarding the subdivision while the objection is under state review.