A new residential, mixed-use development is in the works for 137 acres of land near the intersection of Linger Longer Road and Lake Oconee Parkway.
The property is generally located east of Old Linger Longer Road, which runs behind the Weinberger’s Furniture Store and west of a Reynolds Lake Oconee buffer strip along Reynolds Parkway.
The Greene County Planning and Zoning Board discussed the proposed project by Red Clay Development LLC at its monthly meeting Tuesday.
Airabella at Lake Oconee would be the first project designed under Greene County’s Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) zoning standards that require a mix of residential and commercial elements that are “compact, walkable, diverse, safe, and attractive,” according to the Greene County zoning ordinance.
The preliminary plat map shows a large residential area on the southern end of the property with 116 single-family lots between one acre and three-tenths of an anchor in size. Next to it, there is a cluster of 25 cottages. On the west side of the parcel, 72 townhomes are planned.
The commercial zone in the northwest corner of the property along Highway 44 is projected to include shops and businesses, some with apartments on the second floor, a 125-room upscale hotel, a four-level partially underground parking deck and a 45,000-square-foot grocery store.
A nine-hole, par-three public golf course will be built through the center of the property. Amenities and open space will be located near residential areas. Roads, alleys and paths for walking, bicycles and golf carts will run throughout the development.
The preliminary plan shows a main road starting at an existing curb cut along Lake Oconee Parkway, across from the Shell gas station. The road continues to Linger Longer Road at the property’s southeastern end.
Hotel and grocery store
Tuesday, developer Ishaan Patel would not identify the name of the hotel, only to say that it will be an upscale brand.
The grocery store is rumored to be Kroger, which would provide direct competition for the Publix just across Linger Longer Road. The Kroger rumor surfaces just about every year, and Patel isn’t talking.
“We’re really confident about our ability to deliver this vision,” Patel told the Lake Oconee News about the Airabella project, “but we have no comment on a Kroger, it’s too early to comment.”
When does this happen?
Red Clay bought the land in November 2021 for $9.5 million from a business owned by Dr. Robert Cowles, according to public documents. At one time it was one of the properties being considered as a location for the new St. Mary’s Hospital.
The property is already zoned Commercial Planned Unit Development (CPUD), so no zoning changes are required. The Greene County Board of Commissioners must approve the preliminary plan and it’s expected to be on the agenda for the next BOC meeting on July 12.
Patel told the Planning and Zoning Board that, if the BOC approves the preliminary plat map, detailed drawings will be created, and some elements may change. He hopes to break ground next year.
What is TND?
The TND concept has been an option for developers for a while, according to Greene County zoning personnel, but this is the first project that would specifically follow TND regulations.
Unique characteristics of a TND include “compact and walkable” neighborhoods, “an identifiable neighborhood/ community center” as well as “open spaces, greens and parks.”
Residential areas should offer a “variety of dwelling types so that younger and older people, singles and families, of varying income levels may find places to live.” The number of residences cannot exceed four dwelling units per acre. Residential density will not exceed 10 units per acre in any phase. There are no minimum standards for lot size. A building’s height is limited to 40 feet.
A TND includes “a diverse mix of activities” that “should occur within walking distance” as well as sidewalks and bicycle-friendly streets. (Greene County Code of Ordinances, Appendix A, Sec. 9.20).