Developer Withdraws Proposed Changes To Etowah River Standards

A developer behind plans to bring close to 2,000 homes to northeastern Cherokee County is putting another delay in a process that's spanned over 2 decades. 

Barker Street, the company behind the proposed 1,800-home Etowah River tract community, on Friday submitted a written request to withdraw its petition to modify zoning stipulations placed on the property by Cherokee County. 

The company on Friday submitted to the county's Planning and Zoning Department its request in writing to withdraw its application. No reason has been provided as to why the company is withdrawing the case. 

The withdrawal has to be accepted by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners.

The commissioners were slated to have a public hearing on the proposed changes and the Etowah Community Land Development Standards during its meeting tonight at 6 p.m. 

The hearing is set to go on as scheduled. 

District 1 Commissioner Harry Johnston noted he felt the proposal is "out of character" for the area, and was "very reluctant" to support the proposed changes requested by the developer. 

"But I don't believe this withdrawal is the end of this development," he added. "We can't rescind the original approval, so when there's enough market demand, I believe it will be built. The developers may proceed based on the current zoning conditions, or they may again request changes to those conditions."

The company in 1990 got approval to move forward with their plans to developed the mixed-used community on more than 1,300 acres along the banks of the Etowah River near Ball Ground. 

Commissioners on Tuesday will also hold a public hearing on its proposed fiscal year 2014 budget, which is proposed at $167.3 million. That's a 10 percent drop from the current budget of $187.3 million.

The budget reduction is driven by the county cutting capital project spending and a lower debt service.

View the attached .PDF to review what else is on tonight's agenda.