Grovetown leaders will revisit rezoning request

Grovetown leaders on Monday denied a request to rezone a 34-acre parcel of residential property but agreed to reconsider the request when more information is provided.

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The property at the corner of Wrightsboro Road and Trudeau Trail is owned by developer Crowell & Co., but JHT Construction Inc. is under contract to purchase the land to build a 70-home residential subdivision and a four-unit commercial building on Wrightsboro Road.

Joe Todd, the potential JHT developer, asked for the property to be rezoned to PUD (Planned Unit Development), which would allow for a redesign of the subdivision and add the commercial area.

Some residents attending the Monday meeting opposed the rezoning, contending the commercial lots would draw much more traffic on an already crowded roadway.

"Traffic is going to be an issue no matter where the commercial questions come up," Todd said. "I think this helps traffic as much as hurts it."

The proposed design of the subdivision would include a revamped layout of the original 70 homes, a community area with a water feature, and greenspace and walking trails. The redesigned plan also includes a third entrance onto Wrightsboro Road across from Chamblin Road.

Todd said his company plans to approach the state Department of Transportation about improvements to Wrightsboro Road, which is a state roadway and under DOT control, including the addition of a four-way traffic signal on Wrightsboro at Chamblin roads.

The added homes would add traffic, but the redesign would allow for better flow of that traffic, he said.

Residents Mike and Dottie Brocato, who live outside the city limits across from Trudeau Trail and the proposed development, said they are concerned about the traffic the commercial lots would draw.

Todd said the commercial buildings area designed for small businesses, who might not be able to afford locations in the city's commercial corridors. The businesses, he said, would serve the area residents.

Proposed uses of those commercial buildings would be a hair or nail salon, ice cream shop, deli, florist, or professional offices.

The city council, who denied the rezoning request with a 2-3 vote, said they would reconsider the request if Todd rewrites the PUD narrative to include exactly what type of businesses would be allowed in what they called a "community commercial" area.

City council members likely will review and reconsider the request, with the additional information, at their Oct. 12 meeting.