A home builder planning to build new retail space and an age-restricted senior subdivision received approval on Wednesday night, May 28. The project is located at State Route 81 and North Ola Road. The request was first submitted four years ago in 2021.
The project consists of 115 acres at the northwest corner of SR 81 and North Ola Road. It will be across North Ola Road from the Publix shopping center.
North Ola Road Retail Space
North Ola Land Holdings, LLC of Stockbridge, GA first applied to rezone the subject property in 2021. At the time, their original proposal had a mixture of residential uses. This was single-family homes, townhomes and quadraplexes. A small amount of retail space was also part of the original plan.
Following discussions with District 3 Commissioner Anglyn and county staff, the applicant revised their plan to incorporate more retail space. They also dropped the multifamily component of the plan. The applicant held several community meetings to discuss their revised concept in 2024. They also completed a development of regional impact (DRI) review during this time. The project required a DRI review because of its size after factoring in the greater retail space.
The zoning advisory board considered the revised request in March 2025. The county commissioners considered it on May 28, 2025. The board unanimously approved rezoning the 115 acres from residential agricultural to mixed use. The MU zoning is consistent with the adjacent Publix shopping center.
About the Plan
The Villages at Ola site plan calls for 216,000 square feet of retail space. The commercial area consists of 37 acres at the front of the property. The concept plan has two anchor tenants, a gas station and various outparcels. In addition, a central pedestrian plaza is a key feature of the plan. Small shops and restaurants would be on either side. The applicant has not mentioned any specific commercial tenants. They previously shared at the community meetings last year that there’s no timeline for the retail space.
Senior Subdivision
What’s expected to build first will be the residential component. The developer, Liberty Communities, intends to build 234 homes in an age-restricted subdivision. This means homebuyers must be 55 or older. The subdivision will be on 78 acres at the back of the property. Homes will be a minimum of 1,600 square feet. It will be a gated subdivision with several amenities. The amenities plan to include tennis courts, community garden, a pavilion and fire pit, grilling area and dog park. Golf cart paths and golf cart parking are also part of the plan. Homes have a projected price point in the mid $300 thousands.
New subdivisions typically start construction about 12-18 months after receiving their zoning approval. This is because the developer has to complete engineering and permit plans for the county to then review and approve them.
Featured image shows an architectural rendering for The Villages at Ola retail space. Jefferson Architecture photo.
