Dacula City Council Passes Revised Mixed-Use Development Ordinance

The City of Dacula now has a planned mixed-use development (PMUD) ordinance that officials feel will give the city flexibility and control to deal with current real estate market conditions.

On March 1, the Dacula City Council voted to approve revisions to the city’s PMUD that could potentially pave the way for bordered by Highway 29 and Highway 316.

The . The ordinance requires that 25 percent of any development be set aside for open space. Of the remaining property, a maximum of 40 percent could be developed as residential.

“We think it’s a good plan,” said Joey Murphy, Director of Planning and Development for the City of Dacula. “It has the flexibility desired, but the control that’s needed by the city.”

The revisions are the results of months of discussions between the City of Dacula and representatives from Walton Investing, Mill Creek Consulting and Rochester Engineering. In December of 2011,  in order to facilitate the development of the 157-acre tract owned by Walton Investing. The property is currently outside the city limits, but the investment group believes annexing the property into Dacula would be advantageous due to the city’s ability to deal with zoning issues more quickly than Gwinnett County.

Last month, featuring a convention center, town green, hotels, offices and apartments. According to Murphy, a maximum of 39 of the 157 acres owned by the investment group could be developed as apartments under the revised ordinance. The revisions also include architectural controls and square footage requirements that would limit the maximum number of apartments on the 157-acre property to 616.

Murphy reiterated that approval of the revisions did not mean the concept plan would be approved, only that such a development would be possible under the revised ordinance. Murphy also pointed out the investment group’s concept plan does match the city’s 2008 comprehensive plan.

“I do think that if something of this caliber happened here, it would be a true asset to the city,” he said.

Mitch Peevy represented Walton Investing during the public hearing that preceded the vote. Peevy described the project as a “class A development.”

“You’ve got 316, you’ve got 29 Highway, you’ll have the Sugarloaf extension -- if not here, where?” he said.

Peevy added Walton Investing has owned the property for about a year and has the ability to weather any kind of economic storm.

“We’ll be here for the long term,” he said.

No citizens spoke in opposition to the revisions, but said he received a total of two emails from citizens against allowing apartments.

The revised ordinance passed 3-0 with council members , and voting in favor. Councilman was absent, but expressed his support for the measure according to Mayor Wilbanks.

In other business, the Dacula City Council:

• approved the . The new contract will result in cost savings of $11,000 per year.
• approved the expenditure of up to $7,500 to construct . The project is expected to cost $5,500.