This area may not be in Snellville city limits, but it is still of interest to us because it’s so close to the city. I was not at the Planning Commission meeting when the project was approved, however, I have watched the meeting video on the county’s web site several times.
The August 4th Planning Commission meeting considered a developer who asked for a rezoning of an undeveloped area to build new homes. The rezoning has been highly contested by local residents mainly of the Norton Estate subdivision. Some of the residents have lived there over 30 years now. The rezoning request was for a change from the current R100 to R60. If it had been approved, the developer could have built more homes per acre. In the simplest terms, R100 zoning requires a minimum lot size of 15,000 square feet with sewer service or 25,500 square feet with septic tank. R60 zoning means a minimum lot size of 7,200 square with sewer service required. A septic system is not an option.
The developer’s final request was to amend the application for an R75, rather than an R60 zoning. R75 specifies a minimum lot size of 10,500 square feet with sewer and 25,500 square feet with a septic system. The Planning Commission approved the measure with this amendment.
The Homeowners are passionate in their desire to keep the surrounding property as natural as possible and want to preserve the wildlife in the area. Several homeowners spoke after the developer and expressed concerns in a few key areas.
- Traffic was one, and the developer stated a study had been done and shows the impact would be minimal. Among the traffic concerns was that the new development would cause more people using Norton Estates as a cut through.
- The developer said he was going to have a 25′ easement between the new home tracts and the existing homes, the homeowners asked for 50” and plenty of cedars and other plant life on the easement.
- The question was asked concerning septic vs sewer, although the Planning Commission said it was more dependent on ground density. In fact an R60 zoning does not include the option for septic systems, but I suggest the Commission made the statement based on knowing they would not approve R60.
- Planning Commission stated with this tract, the difference between R100 and R75 is 12-15 homes. They also said there was going to be development of some type regardless
- Homeowners voiced concerns about retention ponds and marginal high water tables and storm water runoff. The Planning Commission assured them that if the developer did not meet the requirements, the project would not be approved
- Homeowners complained that the Planning Commission had already made its decision before the meeting began. This appears to be based on the common practice of holding a work session and discussing the decisions to be made in the following meeting.
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I see this as the typical conflict between property owner rights, developer interests and the interests of existing property owners in or near an area being proposed for development. I don’t see any wrong-doing on the part of the Planning Commission and I do understand that the homeowners don’t want the area near their homes to be developed.
In a way that’s kind of funny because if development wasn’t allowed when Norton Estates was built, the current homeowners wouldn’t be living there. I do completely understand the homeowners’ objections, but I think the property rights of land owners are the most important consideration. I don’t want some government agency restricting my property rights and I don’t think owners of undeveloped land do either. What do you think?
I live across the street from the proposed development. Yes, traffic is bad. But even worse, have you seen the size of Brookwood High? It’s bigger than some cities! What effect will this development have on an already overcrowded school district?
Ms Bonner, I understand your frustration and as stated I do not take a side here, however you need to be aware that the two officials you mention here are not elected officials so you will not be able to vote them out. To find the help you need you need to go to Gwinnett County website and find the email address for and send emails to Tommy Hunter, County Commissioner for District 3 and Charlotte Nash who is the Chairperson for the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. They will be able to guide you in what steps you can take.
Keep in mind also that the planning commission is not the final say, they are only a recommending body. While they may recommend approval, the board of commissioners actually vote and have the final say.
Norton Estates residents were taken advantage of. We do not have a homeowners association. On 8/4/2015, Norton Estates and surrounding neighbors showed up en masse, all wearing red, to the Planning Commission Hearing re rezoning of new subdivision on Oak Rd. The audience was a sea of red. We showed up again, because we were tabled from the agenda last month. Regardless of the large show of support, regardless of the pleas from several of us, the Commission voted unanimously against our wishes and for the developer!!! The developer got everything he wanted, including smaller lot sizes (more homes squeezed in) and we got screwed. Our commissioners put on quite a performance, pretending to hear us out, when in reality they had already made a deal with the developer. Act one, the developer gets initial plans approved at R-100. Act two, the developer requests rezoning to R-60. Act three, our commissioners approve R-75 zoning which is what the developer and commissioners had agreed to all along. They enjoyed watching us jump through hoops, showing up when they had bumped us from the agenda at the last minute.
Our naïveté and lack of any home owners association was exploited by those in power who are supposed to have our best interest in mind.
I will do everything in my power to be sure that Chuck Warbington and Jeff Tullis do not get re-elected. When it takes you 45 minutes to go one mile on Oak Rd, or Webb Gin, or Scenic Hwy, or Dogwood or Hollybrook, you can thank Chuck and Jeff because they DO NOT CARE that these roads and the Brookwood school district is already completely OVERSATURATED. They only care about their wallets, not the quality of life of Gwinnett and Snellville citizens.
Kelly Bonner kwbonner@gmail.com