Officials working on WJ overlay districts
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
Jackson County, Braselton and Hoschton officials are teaming together to establish overlay districts for two area state highways — and they want the public’s opinion.
A public meeting on the proposed overlay districts will be held on Tuesday, April 15, at 7 p.m., at the Hoschton Depot.
On Tuesday, officials from the county and cities, and a few developers, citizens and planning department representatives met in Braselton to discuss their ideas for the proposed overlay districts.
Jackson County commissioner Bruce Yates recently proposed overlay districts for Ga. Hwy. 124 and Ga. Hwy. 53 in West Jackson. Braselton and Hoschton already have overlay districts in portions of their city limits.
An overlay district is another zoning requirement designed to supplement the existing standards in a specified area.
Overlay districts often promote similar building standards, architectural design, improved traffic design and an overall consistent concept in a specified area.
An overlay district on Hwy. 124 may extend from the Braselton town limits east towards Jefferson, ending at Doster Road.
On Hwy. 53, an overlay district may extend north to the Hall County line and south to the Barrow County line.
Braselton already has an overlay district on Ga. Hwy. 211 through the town limits in Barrow and Hall counties, and a downtown overlay district. Braselton also has a traditional neighborhood development district in downtown.
Hoschton has a business overlay district, which centers around the city square and includes a portion of Hwy. 53.
Jackson County is modeling its proposed overlay districts in West Jackson on a conceptual overlay district on Hwy. 53 that Braselton is considering within its town limits.
Commissioner Yates said officials from Jackson County and the cities should work together to protect the citizens of those corridors from undesirable developments.
“We don’t know what it’s going to look like,” Yates said. “That’s why we need input from the citizens.”
Yates — a former Braselton council member — said he wanted citizens and homeowners associations along Hwy. 53 and Hwy. 124 to have a say in the proposed overlay districts.
Developer Tom Kitchin said if Jackson County and its cities don’t address design standards for the state highways in West Jackson soon, the area could become another Hamilton Mill. Kitchin has developed the Mulberry Walk Shopping Center on Hwy. 211, Hometown Walk on Hwy. 53 and Traditions Walk on Hwy. 124.
“It’ll be a headache, but in the long run, it’ll be a benefit to everyone,” Kitchin said of the potential overlay districts.
Braselton mayor Pat Graham said she favored mixed-use projects, multi-level retail buildings and more office space along the state highways. She also wants deep development setbacks, should the highways be widened.
Hoschton mayor Bill Copenhaver said he preferred more greenspace and pedestrian-friendly paths along the state highways.
Some of the issues that the proposed overlay districts will have to address are specific standards for lots, signs, parking, architectural design, lighting and landscaping buffers.
Frank Etheridge, planning director for Jackson County, said he expects at least three work sessions to develop the overlay districts. The Jackson County Planning Commission and board of commissioners will also have to consider the plans, he added.
