Residents cite concerns over traffic, infrastructure; officials say it’s too early
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The Cove at Harbor Club would be built in three phases and eventually have 1,400 homes on land that is currently zoned agricultural. -
Several Harbor Club residents shared opposition to Kolter’s proposed development, stating needs for wetland conservation, water delivery issues, density and more. MAUREEN STRATTON/Staff
“Build it and they will come” seems to be the concern of many along the manicured subdivisions of Highway 44 in Greene County.
Feeling squashed by expected growth and traffic to hit the nearby roads, the opposition has been heard loudly about Kolter Land Partners’ proposed development alongside Harbor Club on 600 acres off Richland Connector.
Tuesday’s approval by the Greene County Commissioners of a zoning change to the acreage from agriculture to a planned unit development (PUD) seemed to seal the deal for many in attendance.
The approval is conditioned upon several provisions the county outlined.
No preliminary plat will be approved for the development until Kolter receives approved roadway designs from the county for the development’s intersections with Club Drive and Richland Connector, and an approved development timeline for new homes is acceptable to the county that aligns with improvements at both Club Drive and Richland Connector.
Unnamed for now, the development of more than 1,400 single-family homes is proposed once final approval is given. The project is being built by Kolter Land Partners LLC, which has managed and opened several large developments throughout the state. Featuring several types of housing – including villas, condos, and single-family homes.
The gated development will have two highly contested entrances, busy enough to bring many nearby residents of Harbor Club to publicly state disappointment and dissatisfaction with what growth brings to its popular lake community not too far from bustling Atlanta.
Immediate concerns point to a preliminary plan showing shared access onto Highway 44 at Club Drive.
County Commissioner Angela Deering, who represents the district that encompasses the development, has stated it is too early in the process of planning the development to accurately address concerns that many feel is obvious.
Heated discussion at group meetings centered on expected traffic, density, adequate on-and-off-road access to Highway 44, poor water delivery and construction water runoff to many in Harbor Club.
This, coupled with several problems residents have voiced about Harbor Club’s existing management, has made the subdivision less than desirable to many residents.
Chuck Wooley is Greene County’s Director of Building, Zoning and Project Management. He oversees the permitting, zoning, conformity and future land use oversight.
It is a hard job and one met often with opposition to approved construction permits. He said it does take several steps along the process to ensure that projects meet with county ordinances while juggling residents’ concerns in the county.
“We know there are concerns and many questions for this project,” Wooley said. “However, I think we are putting the cart before the horse.
Many details that specifically outline the development have not even been addressed yet. The first step was rezoning the property from agriculture to a planned unit development.”
According to Wooley, a 30-year veteran in his profession, the change to a PUD is consistent with housing all along the Highway 44 corridor thus far, including the Landing, Reynolds and Harbor Club.
Among the criteria for change is a presentation of a conceptual drawing for zoning review and establishing that it meets with all the permitted uses of planned use.
County zoning concurred that the rezoning action met all criteria of switching the large swath of land to a PUD. Having been approved by the county commission sets the project up for several reviews along the way, including a traffic study, possible amendments to existing ordinances and a left-hand turn lane at Highway 44 from Club Drive. According to Wooley, the turn lane is warranted now, but the Georgia Department of Transportation would need to cite a need for any new traffic signals onto Highway 44.
The provision of water delivery to the biggest county development since Reynolds has been a concern with Piedmont Water Company servicing most of unincorporated Greene County. According to the county, Kolter is not bound to use them to service the new development.
However, PWC is the primary source for water delivery throughout the county, and residents of many communities have expressed complaints about low water pressure, quality and sewer issues.
“Greene County is primarily unincorporated,” Wooley said. “Because Piedmont is so established with other large subdivisions, it would be difficult for another company to come in due to the established infrastructure in most areas of the county. It really isn’t feasible.”
The widening of Highway 44 by GDOT, expected to initiate in June of next year, presents another challenge but possibly a solution to the traffic up and down the Highway 44 corridor.
GDOT owns the right-of-way and the county has no control over the design elements. The new development is expected to continue to reinforce concerns as each phase comes up for review.
The development will be built in three phases and conceptually will have an amenities center, courts for tennis and pickleball, walking trails, a community center and three gated entrances.