County approved commercial lot rezoning at Flint Mountain Development
News, Videos July 14, 2020
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Holding their Regular Meeting at a special location, the Gilmer BOC (Board of Commissioners) met at River Park this month, avoiding the courthouse due to COVID-19 exposures.
Due to the recent spike in cases and closures of many county offices until yesterday, the Commissioners opted to cancel their work session and later chose to move their site of the Regular Meeting outside before eventually choosing a pavilion at River Park to avoid rainfall expected during the meeting.
During that meeting, they approved a commercial rezoning request for a development by Flint Mountain Holdings on Highway 282 in Gilmer. Though not directly a part of their 305 lot subdivision plan, it is in the same vicinity, set to be used for boating equipment and a bait shop according to the Commissioners. An isolated commercial lot, Chairman Charlie Paris voiced a comment about the zoning being such, but saw no reason to deny it saying, “If we zone it C-1, there is any number of things that they can do there, but given the location of this property, I can’t imagine that it would be anything that wasn’t associated with the water and the lake.”
Citizens gathered at River Park for the Commissioners July 9, 2020, meeting to avoid weather and COVID-19 exposures in the courthouse.
Ferguson questioned about the property and its relation to Corps of Engineers property. Through discussion, Planning and Zoning Director Karen Henson said the Corps had received a letter and had not made any comments against the zoning change.
Also in their meeting, the board approved a resolution moving forward with the County’s TAN note, although the TAN was previously approved, the item now is to formally approve the contracts for the TAN to be finalized.
The Board also discussed new appointments to other boards. Two spots are still unfilled for the Keep Gilmer Beautiful Advisory Board. Bill Craig was approved to the Building Authority Board.
Flint Mountain Holding Development before the Commissioners this week
News July 6, 2020
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Many citizens are still discussing the topics around the Flint Mountain Holdings, LLC. development project on Highway 282 this week as some voice concerns on social media or with their elected commissioners.
This week sees a small part of the development before the commissioners, our current understanding is the commercial re-zoning on this month’s agenda revolves around lake usage, such as boat storage or equipment. It is not a part of the 305 lot total development.
The “Whole Development Site Plan” for High River was filed with Gilmer County Planning and Zoning.
While recent months have seen the Commissioners not accept comments in meetings on Planning and Zoning, citizens can still phone their Chairman and message their Commissioners with concerns or questions. The public comments in the meetings have been skipped in recent months as legal counsel suggested the commissioners should not be holding a second planning and zoning hearing in the commissioner meetings. Indeed, some zoning issues have become equivalent to this in the past.
Despite this, citizens are taking to social media saying that they have just recently learned of the development and are wanting to voice their opinions as citizens of the county to their officials. Others are already voicing opinions on both sides, comments on FYN’s article “Flint Mountain Holdings files for 305 lot subdivision” have seen some citizens indicating they are fine with the additional large subdivision saying, “Development is a fact of life! Just hope this development will follow all guidelines & not harm our beautiful Coosawattee river!”
Others on social media are calling the development a large step away from Gilmer’s style and appeal as a smaller mountain town.
Indeed one popular post shared by several people states,
“Other projects under way in Gilmer County include Watersong Phases 1, 2 and 3 – located on Gates Chapel Road on the western side of Gilmer County, with 43 lots; and The Hammock with 88 lots sized 1 acre or larger located off Roundtop Road in the southern portion of the county.
Located in the north central portion of Georgia, Gilmer County is known for its mountains and annual Apple Festival. More than 55,000 acres of the county lie in national forest. The county’s population grew from 13,368 in 1990 to 30,674 as of 2017, and its population is projected to exceed 32,000 by the year 2040, according to the U.S. Census.”
Indeed, when questioned about current and previously approved multi-lot developments in the last 12 months, Karen Henson, Planning and Zoning Director for Gilmer County said in an email::
There are 9 multi-lot developments that currently have plans filed in Gilmer County;
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Cherry Lake Phase 30 – 16 lots – 1 acre or less – R-2(Residential High Density) – paved roads – off Joanne Sisson Road – Northern section of Gilmer
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Frosty Mountain – 17 lots – 3+ acre tracts – A-1(Agricultural) – off Old Bucktown Road – gravel roads – Eastern section of Gilmer
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Walker Reserve – 10 lots – 5+ acre tracts – A-1(Agricultural) – off 52 West – gravel road – near Murray County Line
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Red Oak Estates (fka The Falls) – 22 lots – 1+ acres – R-2(Residential High Density) – paved roads – off Roberts Ridge Road – Western section of Gilmer
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Highland Pointe – 19 lots – 1+ acre tracts – R-2(Residential High Density) – paved road – off Eller Road & Stone Road – East section of Gilmer
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The Hammock – 88 lots – 1 acre or less – R-2(Residential High Density) – paved roads – off Roundtop Road – Southern section of Gilmer
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Oakhill Farms – 6 lots – 1.5+ acre tracts – (Residential High Density) – paved road – off Mulkey Road – Eastern section of Gilmer
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Watersong Phases 1,2&3 – 43 lots – 1.5+ acre tracts – A-1(Agricultural) – Greenspace Development – gravel roads – off Gates Chapel Road – Western section of Gilmer
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High River – Phases 1-4 – 123 lots – 3+ acre tracts – R-2(Residential High Density) – gravel roads – off Crossroads Church Road – Western section of Gilmer – More phases to come – total of 305 lots at completion
All 9 of the above have been approved by the Gilmer County Planning Commission within the last 12 months according to Henson. This is only the unincorporated parts of the county as the cities have their own zoning ordinances.
Further, Henson did confirm with FYN that the development will be requiring the previously reported DRI study, mentioned in our previous article, as the total project will collectively surpass the 125 lot minimum.
Flint Mountain Holdings re-zoning for commercial use will be before the Board of Commissioners this week during their work session on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. and Thursday during their regular meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Work Session:
Regular Meeting:
