Warner Robins Council approves 300-acre rezoning for subdivision expansion

WARNER ROBINS — Warner Robins City Council heard two rezonings, but only one came to fruition at their latest meeting on Monday night.

Council approved the first rezoning for 309 acres of land along Moody Road from single-family residential to general residential. Planning and Zoning manager Darin Curtis stated the rezoning is intended to expand the Woodlands subdivision.

Curtis said staff recommended approval, and the property’s usage would likely remain the same.

“It’s currently limited to a single-family use. [General residential] does allow for a denser use of this property, but the developer has stated that it is intended for single-family detached use in conformance with the rest of the Woodlands subdivision,” Curtis said.

If approved, the development would involve access along Moody Road. Responding to a question from Councilman Charlie Bibb, Curtis said the property has a pre-existing driveway, but it has not yet been determined if it will become the entrance.

“We would typically start to evaluate that once we have a formal submitted plan. [For] the location of the driveway, obviously, we’re going to make sure it’s in the safest place,” Curtis said.

Councilman Derek Mack asked about housing density and whether the development would require acceleration and deceleration lanes. Curtis said that without a formal site plan, the city isn’t yet sure how many homes will be built, and the number of units, traffic conditions, and speed limit will determine if the lanes are needed. He said similar-sized projects would most likely need a deceleration lane.

Keith Newton, representing the property, said he is proud of the project and he is working with the city and county to review plans. Citizens spoke out against the expansion, citing traffic and environmental concerns, and were disappointed in the lack of a formal site plan.

Another land use case discussed was for 8.75 acres on Highway 41, west of the Rose Hill subdivision. The request was to rezone the property from single-family residential to a planned development extraordinary district.

The development would have extended Rose Hill Drive and added a self-storage facility and 39 two-story condos, according to city documents.

Staff did not offer a formal recommendation, and the planning commission suggested the stipulation of an office building instead of self-storage, as well as private access for Rose Hill Drive.

The other land use case was also met with citizen opposition, citing concerns about security, construction and mismatching the neighborhood’s character. The applicant’s representative ultimately retracted the rezoning request during the meeting.

To view the meeting’s agenda and supporting documents, visit the city’s website.

A full look at the meeting can be found on the city’s Facebook page.

The next Warner Robins City Council Meeting will take place Monday, April 20, 4:30 p.m., at Warner Robins City Hall, 700 Watson Boulevard.