Zoning Board set to consider two senior living communities

Building elevation for Harmony at Stockbridge senior living communities. Photo shows a four-story building with windows and brick finishes. (Contineo Group photo)

The Henry County Zoning Advisory Board next meets on Thursday, May 27, at 6:30 pm. Agenda items include two requests for new senior living communities. Both requests are in the Eagle’s Landing area.

Update: the zoning advisory board recommended approval of both requests.

The projects follow another nearby development. Oaks at Eagles Landing is under construction off Patrick Henry Parkway. The project expects to open in spring 2022. They will offer independent and assisted living options in addition to memory care units.

Harmony at Stockbridge Senior Living

The first request is a short distance from Oaks at Eagles Landing. Harmony at Stockbridge is a proposed senior living community only 0.5 miles away on Patrick Henry Parkway. The proposed development consists of 7.98 acres. It is across the street from Georgia Power.

The applicant is requesting a rezoning from C-2 (General commercial) to OI (office-institutional). If approved, then they plan to build a four-story 200,000 square feet building. The project includes 190 units.

Smith/Packett Med-Com, LLC of Roanoke, VA is the project developer. They also own Harmony Senior Services managing communities in twelve states. Their first Georgia site opened last year. The Henry County proposal closely models their Savannah location.

Henry County planning staff are recommending approval of the request. Proposed zoning conditions would limit tree removal along I-75. This aims to preserve right of way for a future collector-distributor system. It also seeks to maintain a visual buffer from the interstate.

In addition, the applicant is requesting a variance from development standards. They applied to reduce the number of parking spaces from 190 to 160 spaces. They are seeking the variance because some residents will not own a vehicle. Planning staff are recommending denial because there is no basis to recommend approval. The ZAB can still approve the variance if they so choose.

Southern Crescent Rehabilitation Center

The zoning advisory board will also consider a rezoning request for Southern Crescent Rehab Center. The property is located off highway 42 between Campground Road and ELCA. The request consists of 19.99 +/- acres.

The county rezoned the subject property in September 1997. The plan at the time contemplated future expansion as a senior living community. Because of the age of the request, county staff requested the applicant submit a new rezoning request. This allows for updated zoning conditions. In addition, there is an associated request to amend the future land use map. The FLUM amendment would be from industrial to mixed use.

Southern Crescent is proposing the following uses:

  • 77 single-family attached homes
  • 23 single-family detached homes
  • assisted living facility expansion

The units will be limited to seniors who engage in services from Southern Crescent. Proposed zoning conditions prohibit the use of the single-family lots as a traditional subdivision.

Planning staff are recommending approval. Like the rezoning request above, the final decision rests with the BOC. Both senior living communities will be presented at a later date.

Featured image shows building elevation for Harmony at Stockbridge. Photo credit Contineo Group.

About Clayton 1739 Articles
Clayton Carte is the founder and owner of The Henry Reporter. He founded the site in 2017 to highlight transportation projects. Over time, he began covering other topics like new development so residents can best know what’s happening in our community.