CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — Several commercial and residential development projects are moving forward across Clarkesville, though most remain in early or transitional stages, according to City Zoning Administrator Caleb Gaines.
Gaines said December has been unusually busy for the city’s zoning function as staff and officials manage multiple projects at once.
“We’ve got a lot of balls in the air, but we have a good planning commission and council,” Gaines said. “I just noticed that this December has been busier than usual, because we’re not just looking at Waffle House and the subdivision over there. We’re also looking at multiple homes being built right now.”
Gaines said the city currently has four housing developments under construction.
Waffle House demolition nearing completion
At the future Waffle House site on West Louise Street, Gaines said demolition work is nearly complete.
“I think demolition is almost done,” he said. “The last I heard was March or April.”
Even with demolition wrapping up, Gaines cautioned that building construction is still some time away.
“There’s still a lot of site work to do before they can do any kind of building,” he said.
The restaurant site sits next to the planned Georgia Department of Transportation roundabout at Ga. 197, East Louise Street and U.S. 441. While Gaines said he could not provide new details on the roundabout itself, he said its impact on the Waffle House project has already been addressed.
“They got cost-of-care reports for everybody that they were affecting about a year ago now,” Gaines said. “They made some adjustments when Traditions Bank was getting the old Stoney’s restaurant property. They were already working with GDOT about right-of-ways and that kind of stuff.”
Rocky Branch Road subdivision still preliminary
Gaines said the housing development off Rocky Branch Road remains in the preliminary plan phase, though progress is visible on the site.
“They’re still in the preliminary plan phase right now,” he said. “They’re working on site
work, grading. The first layer of the streets are in, curb and gutter. It actually looks pretty good over there.”
The subdivision will include 64 homes, reduced from an original estimate of about 80, Gaines said.
Before home construction can begin, additional steps are required.
“Before they can start building, they’ve got to get workers on the site doing the infrastructure,” Gaines said. “Then they’ve got to come back to the planning commission for a final plan, and then they can start building on it.”
Based on current progress, Gaines said construction is still months away.
“I would say maybe six to nine months, the way they’re going,” he said.
Washington Street site not in limbo
At the former Church & Son Funeral Home site on Washington Street, Gaines said the property owner is still working through the design phase.
“The owner of that property is still in development with some architectural company,” he said. “I don’t know who it is.”
While no formal plans have been submitted, Gaines said the project is not stalled.
“He can’t stay in a holding pattern for too long,” Gaines said. “It’s an empty lot downtown. So I’m hoping — and it’s just me hoping — maybe within six months we’ll get started or see some kind of plans.”
Growth remains manageable
Looking more broadly, Gaines said he has spoken several times with City Manager Keith Dickerson about Clarkesville’s future growth.
“Keith and I discussed that a couple of times in the recent past,” Gaines said. “But at this rate, the way things are going, it’s not overwhelming at all, really.”
Gaines emphasized that zoning limits how much the city can expand.
“It’s a small town,” he said. “Honestly, you can look at our zoning — we can’t grow much more.”
Hotel study up to council
Gaines also addressed discussion surrounding a hotel feasibility study for the former courthouse site downtown, saying that decision-making rests with the City Council.
“It’s more of a council thing,” he said. “The council took up the study, and they’re going to have to decide where to move forward.”
Gaines said his focus in that area was on preparing the site.
“My main goal was just getting that taken down — getting the courthouse site taken down and getting the old garment factory taken down,” he said.
As Clarkesville continues to manage multiple projects at once, Gaines said coordination between staff, planning commissioners and council members remains critical to keeping growth steady and controlled.
