After four years on the drawing board, a massive mixed-use, 308-acre development located just south of I-20 in the city of Conyers is seeking a zoning variance in order to break ground on the first of the proposed 1,400 residential units and 580,000 square feet of commercial space.

The company behind the Corner Market and Village at Almand Creek Apartments, known as Four A International LLC, and has been working with Conyers planning officials for several years to develop a mixed use commercial and residential development on the 308-acre tract. In order to break ground on the first phase, which is the portion of the triangular tract situated between Iris Drive, Flat Shoals Road and Johnson Road, the necessary zoning change will be discussed during a Planning and Zoning hearing open to the public Thursday night at 7 pm before the Conyers City Council votes on the proposed zoning change during it's May 15th meeting. 

"A development of this size has a huge impact here, and we really can't afford to have mistakes made," City Councilman John Fountain said during a Community Development Committee meeting held with Four A officials Wednesday. "In order to attract the people we would like to attract here (to Conyers), we have to have high quality developments like this." 

The mixed-use development aims to attract a wide range of residents to a walkable community containing affordable and attractive housing that represents an equestrian theme and a sense of community. 

The pubic will be allowed to voice concerns or support of the development during the Planning Commission's public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at 901 Main Street.