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By Jeff Moore

Contributing writer

A developer is looking for rezoning of more than 11 acres to pick up where a previous one left off at The Orchard on East 20th Avenue in Cordele.

The city planning commission will hear from Double Up Outdoors Properties LLC at its meeting 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30 on its request to change the zoning to R4 that would allow for multi-family housing.

Cordele Community Advancement Manager Maurice Hill said the area is currently zoned R7.5-5 for single family housing.

What they derived was that if they tried to come in and build the to the 44 units approved for the project, Hill said the developer determined it would not be sustainable. The original developer apparently came to the same conclusion after having installed all of the infrastructure needed for 44 single family homes.

“What we talked about was changing the zoning to R4, which will allow for a mix of different housing units,” he explained.

Double Up Outdoors Properties is looking at some additional single family combined with duplexes, townhomes and possibly condominiums,” Hill noted.

Going before the planning commission is the first formal step in the rezoning process.

To prepare for the planning commission meeting, officials have met and discussed the location through an email thread to determine if there are concerns about moving to a higher density development at The Orchard, Hill said. They were looking at addressing any issues or any concerns that may be there or at least outline the concerns.

Those involved in this process include officials from water, sewer, public works, code enforcement, the fire department, the police department, City Manager Angela Redding, the developer and Hill, he noted. The meeting and the email thread allowed the group to identify anything that would need to be addressed if the rezoning wins approval.

However, he noted no issues were raised and the infrastructure there should handle the increased density with multi-family developments.

They also recommended that Double Up Outdoors Properties asked its own engineer to look at the infrastructure.

“It puts all of the onus on the developers should something not go right, because we gave you and opportunity to talk to your engineer,” Hill explained, noting its about transparency and accountability.

Once the rezoning request is considered by the city planning commission, it would then move on to the city commission for action, he noted.

During the Sept. 17 commission meeting, Redding encouraged the public to participate in the process to provide their input to this higher density development moving forward.