Applicant requesting apartments and townhomes along McDonough Parkway

Double Eagle Land Development is requesting annexation of 62.24 acres into the city of McDonough for the purpose of building apartments and townhomes. The land is located along McDonough Parkway between Jonesboro Road and SR 42.

The applicant is requesting a rezoning to RM-75 (multifamily residential) and RTD (residential townhomes). Both are city zoning classes that allow up to eight dwelling units per acre. On the unincorporated Henry County future land use map, the subject property is designated low-density residential which allows between one and two dwelling units per acre.

This is not the first time the land has been considered for annexation into McDonough. Here’s a news article from 2003 expressing many of the same concerns as today. The county formally objected to that annexation request a few months later and the applicant withdrew their application.

City staff are recommending approval of the request “in order to provide for economic sustainability” and noting the subject property’s “proximity to the Alexander Park (Expansion), City’s Greenway Infrastructure… & Jonesboro Road Park.”

The proposed site plan shows apartments along the west side of McDonough Parkway and townhomes along the east side of the roadway. Given the low resolution of the photo, I cannot estimate total number of units, but the maximum density allowed could generate as many as 496 units.

The required threshold for a development of regional impact review is not met, and no traffic study will be required by the state of Georgia. The threshold for housing developments within a suburban area is 500 units.

The annexation and rezoning request will have a first read during the McDonough council workshop meeting on October 4 at 6pm. The McDonough council will hold a public hearing and vote during its meeting on November 19. In addition, the McDonough Planning Commission will hold a workshop on October 9 and public review on November 13. All meetings take place at McDonough city hall.

Concerned residents are encouraged to attend the city meetings or contact members of the city council.

Moving Henry Forward is a local blog dedicated to sharing news about transportation projects and land use around Henry County. Follow our Facebook page to see our latest content.