NORTH FORSYTH -- A new auto dealership appears to be coming to Forsyth County rather than neighboring Dawson County.

At a work session on Tuesday, Forsyth County commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a county-initiated zoning for a new auto dealership on about 20 acres southeast of the intersection of Ga. 400 and Hubbard Town Road in north Forsyth.

The dealership will be part of the Don Jackson Automotive Group, which has several locations in Union City and will sell vehicles from Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Trucks.

"[The dealership owner] was approved to go to Dawson County south of (Hwy.) 53 to north Forsyth," District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said. "I'm very tickled to have him in north Forsyth. I love stealing those tax dollars from Dawson County."

The property has a community business district (CBD) zoning and was originally approved for a big box store and restaurant.

Mills said the project was originally to go in Dawson County before the Forsyth site was chosen.

She said the dealership is a step in the right direction for growing business in north Forsyth.

"Commissioners in the past let that mall get away from north Forsyth, and we've been playing catch up ever since," Mills said.

Mills also said she had been in contact with surrounding homeowners associations and that there is a creek buffer at the rear of the property. The dealership will also contribute funding to North Forsyth High School.

Christopher Light, a zoning attorney representing the dealership and member of the Cumming City Council, said they are looking for a change to zoning conditions and a sketch plat variance but that the zoning will remain CBD.

The matter will be up for a public hearing and final approval at a future meeting.