City planning staff recommends conditional approval of luxury hotel, resort on Lanier

Plans for a luxury hotel and resort on a 38-acre site on Lake Lanier west of town has gotten a “do approve” recommendation from the Gainesville planning staff. But the recommendation for Capstone Property’s plans, which go before the planning and appeals board Tuesday, is being made with conditions – nine of them, in fact.

That “conditional” approval for a Planned Unit Development (P-U-D) zoning amendment request is based on the Comprehensive Plan and the adjacent and nearby residential uses, according to city documents.

Conditions:

  1. The development standards within the applicant’s narrative, concept plans, and
    architectural renderings shall be made part of the zoning ordinance and shall be
    subject to the Community and Economic Development Director approval. Any zoning
    conditions adopted as part of this zoning ordinance that conflict with these
    documents shall take precedence over the applicant’s development standards.
  2. A commercial marina with fuel sales is not permitted.
  3. A mandatory Homeowners Association (HOA) or a property manager shall be
    required for the proposed development providing for the financial management,
    architectural controls, enforcement of community standards, regular maintenance
    and management of all properties and common areas.
  4. The proposed 25-foot wide perimeter buffer shall include a mixture of existing trees
    and a staggered row of buffer trees consisting of a mixture of Cryptomeria, Arborvitae
    and Eastern Red Cedar trees or other approved trees at a minimum installation height
    of 10 feet. The location, number, spacing, size and type of trees planted shall be
    subject to the approval of the Community and Economic Development Department
    Director.
  5. Prior to the issuance of a land development permit for the subject property, the
    developer/property owner shall submit a Stage 2 Intersection Control Evaluation
    Study for the intersection of Ivey Road and Browns Bridge Road (SR 369). The Study
    shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer and is subject to review and
    approval by the Gainesville Public Works Director and the Georgia Department of
    Transportation. The Study shall utilize updated and/or field-collected traffic data,
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    including turning movement counts, refined trip generation, and include traffic
    volumes generated from Cresswind subdivision having access on Ivey Road.
  6. All access point design for the subject property shall require review and approval by
    the Gainesville Public Works Department Director and the Georgia Department of
    Transportation (GDOT). All required access/traffic/sidewalk improvements associated
    with the proposed development or any additional improvements identified within the
    Traffic Impact Study and Stage 2 Intersection Control Evaluation Study shall be at the
    full expense of the developer/property owner.
  7. All service areas, loading areas, ground or roof top HVAC equipment shall be
    screened from view from all adjacent uses, roads and Lake Lanier.
  8. Outdoor lighting used in this development shall be of non-spill design and placed in a
    manner to minimize direct visibility by the adjacent properties.
  9. A uniform sign plan shall be required for the proposed development subject to the
    approval of the Community and Economic Development Department Director.

As 97.5 GLORY FM reported last month, the developers hope to break ground this month on the project which will include a 177-room hotel, seven cottages, and 14 duplex estate homes, located at the end of Ivy Road which intersects with Browns Bridge Road just west of McEver.