After a month-long delay, the Troup County Commission has approved the 1,379-acre Talisa Township residential and commercial development southwest of LaGrange next to West Point Lake.

The board Tuesday unanimously agreed to rezone the property on Lower Glass Bridge and Kimbrough roads from single-family medium-density to planned-unit development. Macauley Investments of Atlanta has to meet a variety of conditions that include road improvements and water and sewer service from the city of LaGrange. County Manager Mike Dobbs said 90 percent of the conditions were suggested by the developer itself.

Macauley plans a 20-year build-out with up to 5,000 residential units and 125,000 square feet of commercial uses, along with 300 acres of greenspace. It also plans to donate 30 to 35 acres for 125,000 square feet of civic or public uses. Long -term plans call for a golf course and resort/conference center along the lake.

Some of the rezoning conditions require the developer to:

n Complete on-site road im-provements by 50 percent of residential build-out;

n Pay half the cost of widening Lower Glass Bridge Road to four lanes from U.S. 29 to Kimbrough Road, including a bridge over the lake, by 70 percent of build-out;

n Protect wildlife and places of geological and environmental significance and sensitivity, and

n Reserve at least 10 percent of the residential units as “affordable workforce housing.”

The County Commission had been scheduled to vote on the rezoning Nov. 4, but delayed the vote until it met with the state Department of Transportation concerning road improvements around the nearby Kia Motors auto assembly plant. Because of the meeting, county engineer James Emery said he’s confident that a two-foot widening of Gabbettville Road and intersection improvements at U.S. 29 and Gabbettville and Webb roads will be completed within the next 12 months.

Winston Turner, whose family sold their land for Talisa Township, said “it’s the best way the land could be developed. I think my daddy would appreciate it … The development will be a flagship for this county.”

“The family did not enter into this decision lightly,” added his wife, Sue Turner. “The Macauleys have been wonderful. Their plan is wonderful because it respects the land and preserves green space.”

Zoning administrator Scott Turk said Talisa Township got 36 points on the county’s new development scorecard because it met or exceeded every standard in the planned-unit-development zoning category. A minimum score of 10 is required for a development to proceed.

“It’s the tightest project I ever saw,” said Commissioner Buck Davis.

Commissioner Ken Smith, who lives on Bartley Road, said 1,100 homes with individual wells and septic tanks are planned near his residence, and Talisa Township will be “so much better than what I’m expecting in my area that I have no control over.”

Ronnie and Pam Moncus of Lower Glass Bridge Road gave the commissioners a petition with 35 names in favor of the project.

Doris Dickens of Lower Glass Bridge Road said she would prefer the land remain zoned for minimum 1-acre lots, rather than allowing multiple homes on a single acre.

Michael Bailey of Lower Glass Bridge Road gave the commissioners a petition with 65 signatures against the rezoning.

Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@ lagrangenews. com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 235.