Townhomes proposed on highway 42 in McDonough

A new rezoning request in the city of McDonough proposes to build townhomes off highway 42. The 6.49 +/- acre tract is located south of McDonough Parkway and abuts the Summit at Hamilton subdivision.

The McDonough Planning Commission recommended denial of the request on Tuesday, November 10. A public hearing will be held by the city council on Monday, November 16, at 6 pm before a final decision is made. All meetings are held at McDonough city hall.

The applicant, Brent Benson, is represented by Falcon Design Consultants. The rezoning request is to rezone property from C-3 (highway commercial) to RTD (residential townhome district). Approximately 1.97 +/- acres at the southeast corner of highway 42 and McDonough Parkway will be subdivided and preserved for future commercial development.

Fifty-two (52) townhomes are planned on the property measuring twenty-four feet (24’) and twenty-five feet (25’) in width. Each unit will include a two-car front-entry garage.

The planned development has one entrance off highway 42. A playground area will be included. Projected price points are above $200,000.

The property is attendance-zoned for Walnut Creek Elementary School, Eagle’s Landing Middle School, and Eagle’s Landing High School.

The subject property is located along the future widening of Georgia 42 between the McDonough square and state route 138 in Stockbridge. The widening project is planned to start right of way acquisition in 2022 and begin construction in 2026.

RTD Zoning District

Moving Henry Forward previously detailed the city of McDonough’s townhome zoning district in October 2018. The zoning district allows for a maximum density of eight dwelling units per acre. The townhomes must be at least twenty feet wide, with a twenty foot front and rear setback. A maximum of eight dwelling units may be in one contiguous building and a minimum of twenty feet is required between buildings, provided that a two hour fire wall is constructed on both buildings from brick or mortar.

All units are required to have a two-car garage. The minimum square footage for individual units is as follows: 1,200 sq ft for one-bedroom, 1,300 sq ft for two-bedroom, and 1,400 sq ft for a three-bedroom unit. The maximum building height allowed is thirty-five feet.

This article has been updated following the McDonough Planning Commission meeting on November 10.