The proposed annexation and rezoning of 183.18 acres on Campground Road can now proceed back to the McDonough city council after Henry County commissioners acknowledged the revised site plan adheres to the county’s comprehensive land use plan. The number of proposed units has been reduced from 410 lots to 293; however, the proposed lot sizes have not changed.
The McDonough Planning Commission will be presented the updated site plan in a workshop session on Tuesday, February 11, at 6 pm. Other meetings, including a public hearing before the city council, are anticipated in March. Meetings are held at McDonough city hall.
General Holdings Unlimited, LLC of McDonough, GA applied for annexation into city limits and rezoning in April. The applicant intends to use the city’s Residential Group Project (RGP) guidelines allowing for additional density and smaller lots.
Commissioners objected to the proposed annexation because the original proposal had a net density of approximately 2.9 units per acre. The new proposal has removed over one-hundred lots to comply with Henry County’s two net units per acre limit.
Lot sizes remain an issue
The minimum lot size is proposed to start at 7,500 square feet ranging up to 10,000 sq ft. By contrast, if this project was developed in unincorporated Henry County, half-acre lots (22,000 sq ft) would be the most likely outcome.
Proposed setbacks include 20’ front yards, 7.5’ side setbacks, and 35’ back yards. Lot widths range from sixty feet to seventy-five feet.
Annexation would continue sprawl of city limits
The proposed annexation would expand McDonough’s city limits further north and place additional demand on existing city services. In 2017, when McDonough completed an annexation study to consider a “15-30 year plan,” the subject property was not included.
Perhaps the best example is fire service where McDonough’s closest fire station is located 4.4 miles away. The city’s plans to construct a third station on McDonough Parkway would offer little improvement at 4.1 miles. All city residents could bear the future cost of building and staffing an additional station if this annexation is approved.
If the property remains unincorporated, Henry County’s fire station 7 is a short 1.3 miles away.
