A proposed 60-townhome development near Oakwood Elementary School was recommended for approval on Monday, March 19, by the Oakwood Planning Commission.

The board gave its OK after a 45-minute discussion with the developer, Keith Cook, adding a requirement that 15 overflow parking spaces be added and that a homeowners association regulates no parking on the street running through the neighborhood.

Cook said he plans to market the townhomes at 4515 Allen St. particularly to first-time homeowners and possibly students attending nearby University of North Georgia.

Two-story homes, with one-car garages and driveways, would be priced in the $180,000 range. The development also would have sidewalks, according to a map of the project.

The commission voted to recommend rezoning the 5.61 acres from highway business to planned residential development. Shadow Stone Partners LLC is the proposal’s applicant.

The matter now goes before the Oakwood City Council for its consideration.

Eventually, “if the site plan is approved and this project moves forward, there will be an access to (Thurmon Tanner Parkway),” City Manager Stan Brown told the commission.

Thurmon Tanner, built several years ago by Oakwood, is a major four-lane road running just outside the downtown area and connecting to heavily traveled Mundy Mill Road before continuing on to Atlanta Highway/Ga. 13 at Interstate 985 and passing UNG.

With a road connecting Thurmon Tanner to Allen Street, “it will alleviate traffic impacts we have now, particularly on Allen Street,” Brown said.