It appears a couple's two-month struggle to annex their property into Dawsonville is drawing to a close.
The city council voted 4-0 on Monday night to approve the annexation of Michael and Nancy Eason's lot in Gold Creek subdivision with two conditions, both aimed at addressing Dawson County's opposition to the move.
"We live on a small island in the county located inside the city," said Michael Eason of their home on Gold Bullion Drive West. "Anywhere we want to travel, we have to go through the city to get to where we want to go."
The first condition places the Easons' nearly 1.5-acre property in the Gold Creek PUD, or planned unit development, and subjects them to the same terms and conditions as any other resident. It also limits the couple to one home on the lot.
The second condition notes there will be no changes to the zoning or land use of the property for one year.
"I believe these two conditions will resolve all of the county's objections," said City Attorney Dana Miles. "The annexation will not be effective until the objection is resolved with the county."
County Attorney Joey Homans has previously indicated the Dawson commission would be receptive to the changes, but still must approve the matter. A vote could come as early as Thursday.
"The city will agree that the parcel will be single family within the planned unit development and will stay that way within the foreseeable future," he said. "That will address our objection, so I will not request that we proceed with the arbitration."
The Easons said they will have no problems abiding by the conditions.
"We have no plans to change our residence," he said. "We're not going to build high-rises or apartment buildings or bring in any cattle or do anything other than what we do now.
"We intend to conform to the guidelines of our homeowner's association, which is a single family dwelling on this property."
The Easons bought their property in 2012. At the time, they thought it was in the city limits. They filed the annexation request earlier this year.
The Dawson County commission opposed the request in a 3-0 vote. District 3 Commissioner Jimmy Hamby was unable to attend.
In a follow-up letter to the city, Homans cited a disagreement in the zoning that "permits an increase in density."
"The proposed PUD classification ... permits combination of land uses, including residential and non-residential uses," the letter stated. "The proposed change in zoning ... will result in a substantial change in the intensity of the allowable use of the property ... by the county's comprehensive land use plan."