Canton Reviews Annexation, Townhomes Requests

CANTON, GA — The Canton City Council at its Dec. 6 meeting reviewed two zoning-relates cases involving properties targeted for commercial and residential uses.

Council members are expected to act on an annexation and rezoning request for land on Cumming Highway across from Canton Marketplace at Northside Cherokee Boulevard. The developers of Canton Exchange are asking the city to annex 42.07 acres at 2241, 2243, 2247 and 2249 Cumming Highway, and rezone 16.52 of those acres to R-40 and the remaining 25.55 to general commercial.

Community Development Director Ken Patton said the original application was tabled back in the spring, but is now back before the Council to consider at its Dec. 20 meeting.

The area that would be zoned R-40, or residential, is closest to the Brooke Park subdivision and is where re-vegetation planters have been installed by the developer. Patton, who noted a detention pond is on the site, said the developer has no plans to build any residential components at this time. He did say the R-40 designation provides a "transition" from the general commercial use to the R-80 zoning of the Brooke Park subdivision.

Mayor Gene Hobgood said he's not big on annexation, but added this request "probably makes sense for us," as Canton will be able to provide city-related services on both sides of the highway.

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Councilman Farris Yawn asked if the developer obtained any building-related permits from the county while its annexation request was pending. City Manager Billy Peppers said Canton's building inspector has been working with Cherokee County, and both entities have agreed that the county will complete anything open on their end and Canton will take on any permits filed in the future.

Some of Canton Exchange's current tenants include Hobby Lobby, Tuesday Morning, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Woodstock Mattress, Planet Fitness and Newk's Eatery. According to its website, companies that have signed leasing agreements to open in the future include De Allende, Pita Mediterranean, Salon LaFaye, Soho Nails, Your Pie, T-Mobile and Five Guys.

Another item under consideration by the City Council is a request from the TPA Group to build townhomes on a parcel previously approved for single-family detached residences. TPA is seeking to build 99 townhomes on what's been named Pod B, which sits on 12 acres along Bluffs Parkway at Watermist Drive and is adjacent to Cherokee County School Board property.

Both of these cases will be up for a vote at the City Council's Dec. 20 meeting.

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