The Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board on Tuesday night recommended approval of a rezoning proposal that would clear the way for a developer to build a 245,000-square-foot shopping center off Ga. 53/Dawsonville Highway.

Over the objections of some 50 people who turned out in opposition, the board gave its OK based on the developer, America’s Home Place, meeting several conditions recommended by city staff.

Conditions include keeping at least 100 feet between the rear of the shopping center, which would be off Ahaluna Drive and Lakeshore Circle, and the Lakeshore Heights subdivision.

The board also required that the developer or property owner maintain all trees and plants in the buffer area and put up at least an 8-foot black vinyl, coated security fence instead of a 6-foot one as suggested by staff.

“Sitting on this board, most of the time it’s easy,” said board member Doyle Johnson, who moved to recommend approval.

“Tonight it’s hard, because if I make a motion against this (request), I’m going against one side of my brain. If I make a motion for it, I’m going against another side and I’ll also make a lot of people mad at me.”

He stated his support after recounting an experience where, as a homeowner, his property backed up against a proposed shopping center in North Hall County.

“The ideas that it would decrease my property value, increase traffic, increase crime, damage my children — none of those things happened,” Johnson said.

Six of the board members voted in support of rezoning the property to general business from residential and office and institutional. Only Chairman Dean Dadisman voted against it.

The final decision will be left up to Gainesville City Council, which is set to consider the matter at its March 5 meeting.

America’s Home Place is proposing to build the shopping center, featuring several outparcels, on 25 acres across from three restaurants that have sprung up over the past couple of years — Olive Garden, Cheddar’s Casual Cafe and Buffalo Wild Wings.

It would take in previously rezoned property that faces Dawsonville Highway. Neighbors also include Leggs Package store and a BP gas station.

The development would have two entrances/exits at Ga. 53 and one off Ahaluna Drive, a side street off Ga. 53, according to city paperwork.

“The developer has businesses very interested in leasing or purchasing (there),” said Gainesville lawyer Jim Walters, representing America’s Home Place. “There’s a tenant purchaser that wants to open a business in a 71,000-square-foot building, which is the main building there, and they’re waiting for the zoning process to play out.”

Interested businesses “are going to go somewhere,” Walters said. “They would like to locate in Gainesville, but if they can’t, they will locate in other cities. We think that we want them here.”

Tim Evans, the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce’s vice president of economic development, spoke in support of the rezoning.

“This (development) has the potential to attract some retail that’s not already in our community — I would say, even more so, that’s not in our region,” he said.

Lakeshore Heights residents said they were concerned that developers were piling on their part of town and that there are other places in the city where retailers can set up shop.

Michael Proulx, who heads the Lakeshore Heights Homeowners Association, said he believes city leaders are “funneling” development toward the area surrounding Dawsonville Highway at McEver Road.

“It’s not like businesses are wandering around like zombies, looking for someplace (to locate),” he said, speaking after the two-hour meeting.

Opposition outweighed the support for the rezoning, with concerns ranging from environmental impact to disrupting tranquility at the lakeside community, which stretches between Ahaluna Drive and John Morrow Parkway near Lakeshore Mall.

Pat Horgan said he moved to the area from Dunwoody on Wednesday.

“I came to get away from the excesses of progress and development,” he said. “... When you consider displacing (residential) zoning with commercial zoning, you may set a precedent for a future that may not turn out the way you want it to.”

Another resident, Robin Martin, gestured toward a screen displaying a design for the proposed shopping center and said, “This will destroy this neighborhood.”

He added, drawing laughter from the audience, that “if this thing will make millions and millions of dollars, then we property owners need to get in some (of that).”