Board of Commissioners to vote on Dawson Forest development

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote Thursday, Jan. 18, on two variance applications that would allow Dawson Forest Holdings to build 177 single-family homes and 95 townhomes near Hwy. 53 and Elliott Road.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Dawson County Government Center Assembly Room.

Area homeowners voiced strong opposition when the applications surfaced a year ago. Commissioners sided with the homeowners at that time.

However, attorney Joshua Scoggins, of the Miles, Hansford and Tallant law firm, has filed new applications after he acknowledged there were some “technical deficiencies” that now have been corrected.

That acknowledgement, however, did nothing to lessen the opposition. Dozens of homeowners attended the Planning Commission meeting last month to voice their concerns, leading the planning commission to unanimously recommend denial of the applications. Now, the final decision is in the hands of the Board of Commissioners.

Commissioners are also expected to vote on a request for funding from the Development Authority of Dawson County (DADC).

The board voted to eliminate the budget for 2017 and 2018, but DADC Chairwoman Sherry Weeks made a presentation at a special called meeting last month requesting that operating expenses be restored. The annual budget had been $150,000.00, but Weeks is requesting an additional $25,000 to fund a move from its Prominence Court location into the Chamber of Commerce facility.

Other items on Thursday’s agenda include:

• Consideration of the Georgia Trauma Commission Non-Competitive EMS Equipment Grant Application;
• Consideration of  an Emergency Management Services Uniform Award Recommendation;
• Consideration of proposed text amendments to the Animal Control Ordinance;
• Consideration of 2018 qualifying fees for elected officials;
• Consideration of board appointments for the Tree Preservation Committee;
• Consideration of the Impact Fee Methodology Report final draft;
• Appointment of a county clerk; and
• Appointment of Board of Commissioners vice-chair.

 

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