A Gainesville-based development firm that withdrew its plans to build a large subdivision in Mt. Airy says it has no intention of refiling. In January, Cook Construction pulled its rezoning requests for a 101.4-acre tract off Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway after encountering strong opposition from city residents.
Geoff Cook, president of construction services for his family’s firm, says they would like to submit another proposal but adds, “the area didn’t seem like they wanted any new growth.”
“We didn’t feel like we were welcome, so we just kinda decided to bow out and not move forward with it,” he tells Now Habersham.
Before the town’s planning commission even had a chance to vote on the matter, it was clear public opposition had overwhelmed the project. Cook’s attorney withdrew the company’s rezoning requests before a standing-room-only crowd at City Hall during a public hearing on January 18, 2023.
‘Not financially advantageous’
The developers had planned to build 66 townhouses and 227 single-family houses on land adjacent to the Towerview subdivision. Towerview residents were among those who expressed concerns about traffic and the impact such a large-scale development would have on Mt. Airy’s infrastructure and local schools.
Had it been developed as proposed, The Village at Mount Airy stood to potentially increase the town’s population by more than half, adding around 771 new residents to the area.
Mt. Airy Mayor Ray McAllister says the developers told him that the city’s requirement for one-acre lots “was not financially advantageous to them.”
After withdrawing the plan, Cook had to wait at least 60 days before refiling another application to develop the property.
Mayor McAllister referenced the property during the city council meeting on April 4. The council approved a “one-time gift” of $500 to the Habersham Economic Development Council (EDC).
“We don’t have industry and things like that, but they [EDC] asked the other day what could they do for Mt. Airy?” McAllister said. He told the EDC, “They need a developer that will work with us on that property that we got over there and will build houses on a one-acre lot.”
McAllister says he’d still like to see the land developed in a way that complements the town’s character.
“We are a small town bedroom community, and to be honest with you, I believe our citizens like being a small town bedroom community just like it is.”
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