A glimpse of optimism for the local housing market was seen Thursday night when the Conyers -Rockdale Planning Commission recommended approval of the first zoning application for single-family residential development the City of Conyers has considered in over five years. 

Receiving approval from the planning commission was the first step for Arcadia Partners LLC as the company seeks build 105 single-family, detached homes on 38.7 acres abutting the Milstead Community on Boar Tusk Road. For nearly a decade the development has remained dormant behind a locked chain blocking the entrance to infrastructure complete with water, sewer, street lights and paved streets. Now only the approval of the city council remains before development can proceed on the site. 

"The architectural quality is going to be better and it is a development better than what it is currently zoned for," planning commission member Karen Benton said before the unanimous vote to recommend approval was made Thursday. "I think it is a good precedent to set for the future."

Arcadia is seeking to rezone the property from the Residential Single-Family (RS) designation first granted for the site in 2002 to the city's Mixed-Use Development (MxD) classification established in 2012. According to Toby Logel, an Arcadia representative who spoke on behalf of the company during the planning commission meeting Thursday, craftsman-style houses in the gated neighborhood will range from $190,000 to over $300,000 and the first phase of construction will include walking trails, a clubhouse with a pool, three model homes and three spec homes. 

The sole citizen to speak during the planning commission meeting was Spring Road resident Lisa Cape, who said she was at first opposed to the development but is now in support after learning the developers are strictly seeking to build single-family units. 

After voicing concerns over increased traffic in the area, Cape said she is now "in favor of a secured neighborhood."