Commercial Prospect for Chapel Hill at Central Church
Waiting at the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and Central Church Road for the red light to change, some may notice that a group of homes at the corner are up for sale by realtor Tina Fountain. It is not unusual to see homes for sale in Douglas County, but when there is a cluster of homes going onto the market, this can be a potential sign that things are changing.
Losing Georgia has reported on similar cases before (Heritage Valley | Timber Ridge Drive) where homeowners have decided to sell out their properties with the prospect of future commercial development. In reality this is part of the growing cycle that all communities face at some point: agricultural to rural, rural to urban, urban to commercial.
According to online property records the homes make up part of the Turnberry subdivision and it is unknown whether the rest of the subdivision is subjecting to selling out. Now this begs the question, what will happen at this busy intersection?
One resource to look at is the Douglas County Future Land Use Map which illustrates that the corner where these houses are located is zoned for a Community Village Center. The Douglas County Comprehensive Plan 2025, section 10-41, defines a Community Village Center as the following:
“… places where a compatible mixture of higher intensity uses are located, such as larger scaled shopping centers, professional offices and services. Mixed-use developments that combine residential, commercial, service and recreational uses integrated and linked together by a comprehensive circulation system are encouraged in these nodes. Community village centers include shopping and service facilities that offer a wide variety of goods and services, including both convenience goods for neighborhood residents and shopping goods for a market area consisting of several neighborhoods. Whereas someone might live near a neighborhood village center but work outside the county, the commercial village concept includes a variety of housing options, employment opportunities, businesses, office, retail shops, services, well-placed parks, plazas and open spaces that create a community where it is possible to live, work and play. Land use components coexist as part of a collective approach to creating communities that are safe, attractive, and convenient for pedestrians and motorists alike. Natural and historic resources within community village centers should be enhanced and preserved as a means of defining a distinct identity or sense of place. Improved connections to natural assets, both pedestrian and vehicular, particularly from existing and developing higher density residential communities will tie the village together. A Community village center should create a focal point for its surrounding neighborhoods.”
- Douglas County Comprehensive Plan 2025, Section 10-41/42
Just by the definition available, it would seem that a Community Village Center would take up a fairly large amount of acreage and this holds true due to the number of commercial shopping centers entering urban areas. The houses that are up for sale approximately make up 2 acres altogether. Adjacent to the properties is the Kroger which is on 10.88 acres, southward is the Shoppes at Chapel Hill on 15.86 acres and the Shoppes at Deer Creek on 4.64 9.051.
Another speculation is that the City of Douglasville will annex the land for the purpose of commercial. Speaking with a few County representatives they too agree that this possibly could happen and should not be looked over. Referencing back to the Future Land Use Map, one can see that the area is like an island within Douglasville’s city limits, which may further add on to the annexation debate.
Initially it looks as though a commercial development at this location currently is not likely to happen. However five years from now it is very possible considering all the residential growth occurring south of Interstate 20 and the trend is already in sight with the LCI study that is to occur on Fairburn Road.
Please research your acreage, you will find that Shoppes at Deer Creek are more like 9.1 or 9.2 acres. There were 3 parcels involved.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:55 pmThanks, I have made the correction
March 30th, 2007 at 8:46 amUpdate
New zoning variance signs have been placed on each property stated above. The request is to change zoning from R-LD (residential low density) to C-G (general commercial). This could mean the advent of another shopping center.
It looks as though the commercial encroachment has come sooner than predicted.
July 21st, 2007 at 11:59 am