Plans for a proposed senior village on 68 acres along Ga. Highway 34 and Fischer Road in east Coweta County were presented Jan. 22 to the Coweta County Commission. When the lengthy discussion ended, the commission voted to approve 70 lots rather than the 137 requested and only one entrance rather than the two in the proposal.
The unanimous vote by commissioners essentially killed the proposal, with property co-owner Scott Baggarly after the meeting saying the reduction in the number of lots made the project economically unfeasible.
The motion to decrease the number of lots and eliminate the second entrance on Willow Lake Lane off Hwy. 34 came by way of Commissioner Rodney Brooks. Though it was never stated before or during the discussion, Brooks responding to a question after the vote said he lived in the neighborhood.
Brooks’ motion and subsequent vote is allowed even though he lives in the immediate area.
The county’s planning department had recommended approval of the proposal with a number of conditions.
Baggarly during the discussion noted that his family decades ago owned and developed the Shoal Creek subdivision along Hwy. 34 and the Braves Crossing subdivision along Fischer Road. The family retained possession of the 68-acre tract situated between those developments which also borders the Sam’s Club at the intersection of Hwy. 34 and Fischer Road.
The predominant sticking point for most neighbors opposed to the projects was the proposed access drive along Willow Lake Lane, short distance from Hwy. 34. The Baggarly’s own the 50-foot strip that would have been used as a second access point for the development. The county under the proposed zoning requires two access roads for a development the size of the one the Baggarly brothers and Landsdown LLC had proposed.
While the numerous speakers citied the customary fears of increased traffic, crime and falling property values, it was the combined issue of traffic and crime with the Willow Lake Lane entrance that drew the majority of the comments opposing the project.
Edward Mino, one of the neighbors from the Shoal Creek subdivision opposed to the access drive, referenced criminals possibly doing unspeakable things to little children if commissioners approved the second entrance.
The rezoning proposal by Landsdown LLC on behalf of Baggarly Brothers Properties LLLP requested that the 68-acre site located along Hwy. 34 west of Fischer Road and extending north of the Sam’s Club on Fischer Road have the zoning changed from RC (rural conservation) and C-6(minor commercial shopping district) to RRCC (residential retirement community and care).
Proposed for active adults aged 55 and over, the property borders the Shoal Creek Forest subdivision along Willow Lake Lane on the west and Braves Crossing subdivision on the north.
The conceptual site plan for Fischer Crossing Senior Village indicated approximately 137 total units with sidewalks, gardens, parks and recreational activities, including shuffle boards and bocce area and a 2,400 sq. ft. clubhouse. The parks, gardens and clubhouse/community center are components of the county’s new RRCC zoning district.
The proposed development would have included homes ranging from 1,300-1,600 sq. ft. The vote by commissioners required that homes be a minimum of 1,600 sq. ft.
The RRCC zoning district is established to permit the development of retirement dwelling units for occupancy primarily by persons 55 years of age and over. The district requires site planning to assure both flexibility as well as the amenities required for quality retirement housing. Furthermore, the district is recommended to be located in close proximity to necessary facilities, services and transportation. Although this district is designed primarily for unassisted living by mature persons, both assisted housing and nursing homes may be permitted as conditional uses following review in accordance with county ordinances, county staff said.
The county’s planning and zoning department recommended approval of the request. Staff said the proposal would not have any adverse effect on public facilities, would have access to major arterial roadways, supported the transition from commercial to singe-family land use, was supportive of the land uses contained in the Coweta County 2006-2026 Comprehensive Plan and would be convenient to commercial services.
