The Stonecrest Planning Commission recommended approval on Dec. 2 of a rezoning request to allow 63 townhomes at 2374 Cove Lake Road, advancing the proposal to the city council for final action.

Deputy Director Ellis told the commission the applicant seeks to rezone the parcel from MR1 to MR2 for a townhome development; staff compiled 18 conditions and recommended approval after noting the site is heavily wooded, showed no wetlands, and had a prior DeKalb County approval with 14 conditions. Attorney Michelle Battle, who said she represented the original 2007 approval, described changes including a tot lot instead of a dog park, sidewalks, underground stormwater detention and a 50-foot transitional buffer adjacent to the Cove Lake community. "I feel like I've been working on this particular project forever," Battle said, noting she "actually did the original rezoning back in 2007."

Neighbors urged stronger protections. Homeowner Marty Garrison said adding 63 homes to a neighborhood of 113 units will worsen traffic and emergency access at the one-way-in, one-way-out entrance: "I am very, very concerned as a homeowner about the traffic, the 1 way in, and the 1 way out in our community." Resident Lisonbee Cook told commissioners that "a 50 foot buffer is not enough" when the buffer abuts her backyard and asked for fencing or other security measures. The applicant said it is willing to discuss perimeter fencing, placement of fences inside the new subdivision to preserve trees, shared security cameras, and meeting with the HOA to work on traffic and safety mitigation.

Commissioners sought clarifications about rear-entry garages (the design includes alleys and rear access), parking (the applicant proposes three spaces per unit plus 23 guest spaces), and timing for a traffic study; staff said a traffic study is typically completed during the approval process and will be required if the rezoning is approved. Staff and the applicant said GDOT would need to be involved for any signal or curb-cut changes along Covington Highway. The applicant also noted a condition that sets a 75-unit threshold for requiring a second entrance; 63 units keeps the development under that threshold.

Commissioner Erica Williams moved to recommend approval with staff conditions and add an additional condition requiring fencing along the buffer or an alternative fencing arrangement; Commissioner Lamia Hawkins seconded. The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval with the added fencing condition. As a recommending body, the Planning Commission’s action forwards the application to the City Council for final consideration.

The record notes the property identification number presented by staff (16007203009) and staff’s recommendation to strike a conflicting lot-width condition originally set under DeKalb County rules. If approved by the council, the project will still require technical site plan work, a traffic study and coordination with GDOT for any access improvements.