During the Feb. 6 meeting of the Dawsonville City Council, council members approved a zoning condition change for a proposed development off of Highway 53, removing the stipulation in the approved zoning requiring 80 percent of the units to have at least one occupant who is 55 years or older. 

The property is 38.82 acres of land located at 592 Highway 53 West and, according to the information provided in the meeting’s packet, is currently vacant with existing residential structures. 

The proposed development, called the Villas at Dawsonville, was originally approved by the city council in June of 2019 with the stipulation that a minimum of 80 percent of all occupied units developed on the property should have at least one occupant that is 55 years or older, and that all units not occupied by an individual 55 or older should be restricted to 45 years or older. 

The previously approved plan proposed 140 attached units, or 23 quads and 48 townhomes, for a density of 3.6 units per acre. The revised plan presented to the council this week proposed 90 homes, or 61 single family residential and 29 townhomes, for a density of 2.34 units per acre. 

“In 2019 it was approved for 140 homes, but the new application came with 90 homes, less density, less traffic, and a much improved subdivision with more amenities and facilities,” Planning and Zoning Directory Harmit Bedi said during the meeting. “In lieu of that they’re asking to remove the condition for 55 and they have submitted a revised site plan with 90 homes.” 

Public hearings were heard for the proposed zoning condition change on Dec. 12, 2022 and Jan. 12, 2023. The city’s planning commission approved the change on Dec. 12, 2022 with 25 conditions, including adding an emergency entrance off of Howser Mill Road, preserving existing trees to the maximum possible extent on the property and grading the front along Highway 53 West and along Howser Mill Road to make them ready for sidewalk installation in the future. 

During the city council meeting, Eastwood Homes’ Atlanta Division President Scott Dozier spoke to the council, assuring them that he and Eastwood Homes have agreed to the conditions. Council Member John Walden asked Dozier if he would be willing to contribute to running a sidewalk to allow for connectivity to the city of Dawsonville, and Dozier said they would be willing to contribute a minimum of $15,000 toward that project. 

The council members approved the zoning condition change and the revised proposed site plan unanimously with the stipulations provided by the planning commission and the addition of a stipulation that the developer will contribute at least $15,000 toward the sidewalks.