Cherokee Asks for Density Cut in Holly Springs Project

Cherokee County commissioners are asking a developer who is looking to bring a 70-home active adult community to Holly Springs to reduce the density of the project.

EC New Vision Georgia, LLC is applying to annex 23.12 acres on Arthur Drive, off Hickory Road, into Holly Springs. The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners weighed in on the request July 16, and their comments will be sent to Holly Springs for consideration.

The applicant is looking to annex 370 Arthur Dr., 727 Peardon Ct. and 745 Peardon Ct. to build a 70-unit single family detached active adult community. The proposed density is three units per acre.

The applicant is also looking to rezone the property from single family residential (R-40, county) to traditional neighborhood development (city).

Commissioner Benny Carter, who represents the area, said that he would like to see the development’s proposed density decreased.

“One of the first things I’d like to ask Holly Springs to do is consider delaying this coming before the Holly Springs Planning Commission so that county and city staff can talk about some of these concerns we have — I think there are multiple concerns,” Carter said. “I’d also like to ask them to consider reducing the density. Three units per acre is not consistent with that area.”

Carter said he would also like to see city leaders consider adding a 40-foot undisturbed buffer around the entire development, and ask that Holly Springs leaders follow the city’s tree ordinance for the entrance to save any specimen trees along Arthur Drive to “make it more appealing and like the neighborhood that it is adjacent to.”

Cherokee County resident Shannon Wymer, who is the executive director of Take Action Cherokee, told commissioners she is concerned about what she described as a high-density housing development coming to an area with a lot of farmland, as well as potential traffic and safety concerns.

“We have to preserve some of the farmland that still exists,” she said. “Around that property, there are many people who have very large farms in their front yard. That’s how they feed their families.”

Andrew Mulvihill, who lives across the street from the property, said his concerns aren’t being heard by city officials.

“We are pro development, and we want new neighbors and love new neighbors, but what (the developers) are proposing isn’t anything to do with that — it’s a money issue and they want to change the rules to justify the money,” he said. “There are plenty of places to build that are already in that same use. But unfortunately, they don’t want to follow the zoning use that’s there...We can’t allow rules to be broken for the sake of money.”

He asked that commissioners represent nearby residents to help “strike a balance,” potentially rezoning the property from R-40 (single family residential, minimum lots of 40,000 square feet) to R-20 (single family residential, 20,000 square feet).

Another resident of the area, Kay New, said the proposed development is not a traditional neighborhood for the area and would not fit with surrounding properties. She said she is also concerned about the development’s potential effect on traffic on Hickory Road.

The parcels currently lie in Cherokee County’s Suburban Living Character Area and Holly Spring’s Suburban Neighborhood Character Area. The properties are located within the Holly Springs growth boundary, according to county documents.

The development would have one access point on Arthur Drive, as permitted by Cherokee County, county documents show. A right-turn deceleration lane would be included for the entrance.

Cherokee County is asking that a requirement be placed that the development provide a streetscape along the entire frontage of Arthur Drive to include curb and gutter, piped drainage system and sidewalks.

The proposed development is expected to produce 660 vehicle trips per day, according to county documents. County leaders are recommending that Holly Springs do a traffic study to see if this development would create the need for a left-turn lane on Hickory Road at Arthur Drive.

The Holly Springs Planning and Zoning Commission is currently scheduled to host a public hearing at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 to hear from the public and give a recommendation on this request to the Holly Springs City Council. It is scheduled for a public hearing before the Holly Springs City Council at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5, and the council is scheduled to make a decision at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23.

Holly Springs planning and city council meetings take place at Holly Springs City Hall, 3237 Holly Springs Parkway.