Members of the Dalton-Varnell-Whitfield County Planning Commission on Monday unanimously recommended approval of a request by West Brow Development of Chattanooga to rezone from general commercial to medium-density, single-family residential 42.7 acres at 4486 South Dixie Highway in Resaca. The developer plans to combine the property with an adjacent piece of property to create a subdivision that will have up to 169 buildable lots.
The planning commission members make recommendations to the city councils of Dalton and Varnell and the county commissioners on zoning matters. The county commissioners will have the final say.
Several residents of the area spoke out against the rezoning at the meeting, citing the potential impact on traffic and on the rural character of the area.
Planning commission member Chris Shiflett said it was a tough decision. He and other commissioners noted that even if the county commissioners approve the plan it won’t go forward without a traffic study, which could address some of the concerns raised by those who oppose the project.
The planning commission members also unanimously recommended approval of:
— A request by Robert Keck Jr. to rezone from general commercial to medium-density, single-family residential .69 of an acre at 1428 Cleo Way, Dalton.
— A request by Appalachian Builders Inc. to rezone from rural residential to high-density residential .85 of an acre on Roosevelt Drive, Dalton.
— A request by Michael Stafford to rezone from heavy manufacturing to rural residential .49 of an acre at 2218 Abutment Road, Dalton.
— A request by Noe Sigala to rezone from heavy manufacturing to rural residential .38 of an acre at 511 Laster Drive, Dalton.
— A request by Derek Hicks to rezone from rural residential to general agriculture 9.97 acres along Dog Run Lane, Rocky Face.
— A request by Steven Ridley to rezone from low-density, single-family residential to rural residential .62 of an acre at 222 Roberts Drive, Dalton.
— A request by Angela Langley to rezone from low-density, single-family residential to general agriculture 26.96 acres at 1185 Mount Vernon Road, Tunnel Hill, with the condition that there can be no chicken houses or commercial swine operations on the property.
— A request by Crow Road Holdings to rezone from heavy manufacturing to rural residential one acre on Waring Road, Dalton.
The planning commission members unanimously recommended denial of a request by Cody Spence to rezone from medium-density, single-family residential to rural residential .25 of an acre at 801 Cumberland Drive, Dalton.
Ethan Calhoun, a planner for the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission who handles planning and zoning staff work for the county commission, said during the public hearing that the proposed rezoning would permit multifamily housing while the zoning and the development of the surrounding area is all single-family housing.