Plan changes were just right for Payton, Tuck

Commission Chair Sam Branch didn’t get a vote during the Monday evening session, but he would have given this one a thumb’s up – despite his typical reluctance to approve any new dense housing within the city limits.

However even he had to admit that developers headed by Kevin Stephenson have a solid plan for building new residential housing for sale – in multi-unit townhome setups – on multiple acres of land on Davis Road stretching to Tractor Supply Company.

The unanimous vote from the City Commission came after they tabled the request in January seeking some additional changes to the plans put forth for development of land still held by the York family allowing for changes to the already established PD-1 zoning to allow for dense residential housing.

Stephenson told Commissioners ahead of the vote he had secured the additional property he needed to complete the second entrance and exit. They plan to build 12 units at a time in stages, completing the project in a 48 month time frame.

He also added that the plans included a slight decrease in the number of units planned for the area since city officials might look toward a widening project in the near future as the SOLARCYCLE development also moves forward this year.

Commissioners also heard from a builder partnering on the project out of the Atlanta area, who called the development a “sweet spot” for what they have already done in other communities in the metro area. Atlanta-area developer Michael Ledford told the City Commission when they brought up the Davis Road development again that plans also include residents being connected to shopping and food opportunities with sidewalks, allowing for walking accessibility to areas like Tractor Supply and Chick-fil-A for residents.

“We’re developing something very similar right now to something in Jasper, Georgia, which is similar in size to here,” he said.

He noted that the company builds Home Owners Association-controlled communities for homebuyers, focusing on a resident-first community and will only allow upward of 20% of homes to be rented out. Even those rental units will have to be private, so no subsidized housing will be available within the community.

HOA fees will also pay for exterior maintenance like lawncare, painting and other infrastructure requirements for the community. Ledford noted that his company stays involved in communities to ensure they remain kept up for future generations to enjoy as managers of the Home Owners Association.

Developers estimate homes will start in a price range between $250,000 and $260,000.

After addressing the concerns raised during the last meeting, both Payton and Tuck said they were satisfied with the outcome of the updated plans and were ready to allow the project to move forward.

Clearing and grading work will have to begin before construction on the first units will get underway, along with inspections and permits. It’ll likely be later in 2025 before the first shovel of dirt flies on the first set of townhomes.