Bell Road Rezoning Case Draws Traffic Concerns

Plans to bring a 646-lot neighborhood on 224 acres on Bell Road near Boles has drawn the concern of some nearby residents, who say the proposed subdivision's single entrance would create a traffic hazard.

Cory Holz, a homeowners association member in the nearby Foxdale subdivision, says her neighborhood is concerned about the amount of traffic that more than 600 homes would bring.

"We're not opposed to the neighborhood" if the developers added another entrance in addition to the one on Bell, she said, explaining that the developer did bring up the possibility of the city building a connector between Bell and Technology Parkway, and adding an entrance there. 

But, as the plan stands "we are all up in arms," she said.

The applicant, Johns Creek 206 LLC, has filed a letter of intent with the city requesting a zoning change from agricultural to residential, which would need to be approved by the Johns Creek City Council for the neighborhood to be built.

"The property is within the Shakerag character area which suggests residential single family development . . .," states the applicant's letter of intent. "[The application] complies with the policies and intent of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and is entirely appropriate," the letter continues.

Holz added that while the developer said the subdivision would be targeted at young professionals, her neighborhood is concerned that the proposed subdivision would cause overcrowding at the nearby schools. 

"We moved here for the schools," she said, and thinks others would move into that neighborhood for the same reason.

She said the developer plans to build the homes during a 10-year period, with homes near the front of the gated community priced in the $300,000s and $400,000s, and homes in the back priced from $600,000 to $800,000.

"Yes, that would bring property values up," she said, but "that's construction traffic for 10 years."

The plans will go before the Johns Creek Community Association on Thursday, March 14, at 7 p.m. The association is an influential, non-profit group of local homeowners associations that makes recommendations to the city council.

The case is scheduled to go before the city's Planning Commission on May 7, which will then make a formal recommendation to the Johns Creek City Council, which would have final say on the project at a later date.

See attached PDFs for site plans and letter of intent.

Do you think this neighborhood would cause a traffic hazard on Bell Road? Tell us in the comments!