Two development requests within the city of McDonough postponed their cases to later this fall. The projects are proposing a self-storage business and rental townhome development, respectively, near Publix at Lake Dow.
Right now, the city council is scheduled to take up the cases in September and October. Then, they will decide whether or not to approve them.
Lake Dow Self-Storage Postponed Again
Discussions began in April on a proposal for the Lake Dow Road self-storage business. The applicant has since postponed it several times. They have now postponed the request five times in consecutive months.
The proposal, being made by Your Storage Units, would construct an indoor self-storage building along Highway 81. Their original proposal also had some outdoor storage. The site is located across the street from Publix at Lake Dow, where land clearing work has been underway much of the year. They would be on a rear-parcel, not directly on the state highway. Several other outparcels, such as restaurants and retail, will be on the main road frontage.
McDonough staff, at first, recommended to deny the project. The staff citied the proposed building exteriors and outdoor storage as two factors not conforming to the city code. The city planning commission also recommended denial.
The city staff removed their objection after the applicant updated their proposed building materials and added more landscaping. This was as of June. There’s been no substantial updates since then.
At the time of writing, the city council is scheduled to consider the request on Monday, September 16.
Please note the request is for a special use permit, also referred to a conditional use permit by Henry County. It is not a rezoning request. The property currently has C-3 (highway commercial) zoning. The McDonough code requires C-3 zoning with a special use permit to build a self-storage business. The city council adopted this code revision in November 2023.
Nearby, a different self-storage business is coming soon. Mergenser Self-Storage will be behind Chick-fil-A and Starbucks. It was approved in March 2024.
Racetrack Road Townhomes Postponed
Secondly, PLG, LLC of Roswell, GA is proposing a rental townhome project on Racetrack Road. They are requesting a rezoning from RA to RTD (townhomes).
The 14-acre site is on the north side of Racetrack Road, west of the new roundabout at Iris Lake. Other entities associated with the request are Georgia Capital, LLC, a land acquisition company, and Paran Homes.
Their proposal, based on a presentation to the city council made on July 1, has the following:
- 92 units on 14.08 acres,
- All rental townhomes,
- Three and four-bedroom units with rent from $2,300 to $2,600 per month, and
- Amenities include a dog park, mail kiosk, pavilion, and a playground.
At the time, council members raised concerns about the all-rental aspect of the project. The council had the Racetrack Road townhomes on their July 22 agenda for a public hearing and vote, but the applicant postponed it. The applicant postponed their request again in August. They have now deferred it to Monday, October 21.
Also happening nearby, a new gas station is under construction. Last summer, the city approved a second new service station for across the street. Both are within a stone’s throw of the subject property. Finally, new residential homes are coming soon within Symphony Park. That’s the large development behind Publix at Lake Dow.
Featured image shows the Racetrack Road townhomes rendering. PLG LLC photo.
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