Additional retail space will be coming soon to Ola. That’s based on the latest plans submitted along Highway 81. The space would create additional outparcels near the Publix shopping center.
Ola Retail Space
In 2019, when Henry County rezoned what would become the Publix shopping center, the site plan had some retail space along Georgia 81. Specifically, there was commercial space next to Publix then another area across from Keys Ferry Road. The plan also had some residential lots abutting the state route. The original 2019 site plan is shown.
In October 2024, Henry County considered the land owner’s request to modify this. What they now propose is to create continuous retail space along Georgia 81. This will relocate the residential lots off the main road. The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved this modification to the site plan on October 15.
The concept site plan has seven lots. They range from one acre to 2.7 acres in size. The largest lot would house a multiple-tenant commercial building. Some of the other lots are proposed for the following uses:
- two quick service restaurants with drive-thru,
- three retail buildings, to include one additional drive-thru lane, and
- one bank.
The county’s zoning conditions include a number of prohibited uses. These are businesses which cannot locate here. They include the following:
- Pawnshop or loan brokers, other than mortgage loan brokers.
- Tattoo parlor
- Body piercing shops
- Vape and/or e-cigarette shops
- Laundromats
- Nail Salons
- Automobile Wash
- Rentals of vehicle and equipment as the primary
There was no immediate timeline available when these buildings may build.
The Vicinity
There are two major road projects in the immediate vicinity of this project. There’s also a number of other possible developments.
Road Projects
First, Henry County has plans to widen Georgia 81. This project will widen the highway to four lanes. Phase 1 of the project is from Postmaster Drive in McDonough to Bethany Road. That project looks to start construction in 2025. Phase 2 would extend the work further east into the Ola community. Specifically, phase 2 is between Bethany Road and Keys Ferry. Henry County is in final negotiations to hire the engineering firm to design phase 2. Construction on phase 2 may begin around the end of the decade.
Next, the Keys Ferry Road extension would provide better connectivity between Keys Ferry Road and Ola High School / Ola Middle School. Building this road is part of SPLOST VI if voters approve it.
Surrounding Developments
In addition to this project, several other developments are happening in the vicinity. They consist of three residential subdivisions, one of which remains pending its rezoning request, and a mixed-use project.
Behind the Publix shopping center and retail space, AMH Homes is building a rental subdivision. They purchased the 77-acre property in 2022. Their subdivision will have 99 homes when complete. Additional details, such as the rental rates, are not yet available for this project.
The next project is to the east of the future Keys Ferry Road extension. It plans to build 177 homes on 210 acres. There are a mixture of 2/3-acre and one-acre lots within the subdivision. The estimated price points will start in the $600 thousands.
Thirdly, a subdivision is looking to build on the south side of highway 81. That rezoning request remains pending at this time. The request consists of 244 acres. The proposed subdivision has 162 lots.
Finally, a mixed-use development is interested in the northwest corner of SR 81 and North Ola Road. The project is entitled “Villages at Ola.” They are proposing 242 single-family homes for senior living, and 196,000 SF of commercial space. The property measures 115 acres. There’s no scheduled date right now for that project to go before the board; it will presumably be at some time in 2025.
Featured image shows a map of Ola retail space and surrounding projects. Clayton Carte / MHF News map created with Datawrapper.
