For a couple who spent years in the Old Peachtree Road, Satellite Boulevard area of Gwinnett County, the possibility of multiple apartment buildings coming to their new community is disconcerting.

"We fought for as much quality as we could" but finally were prompted to move from Gwinnett, the Wilsons said. They choose Braselton and are now fearful the same development trend could be on the way.

Spout Springs Partners LLC is seeking to rezone 17.89 acres on the southeast corner of Thompson Mill Road and Spout Springs Road in Hall County from General Commercial to a Planned Unit Development.

The rezoning would make way for nine four-story apartment buildings with 248 units and two retail buildings with 30 apartments on the upper level.

Jeff Mahaffey, who spoke on behalf of Spout Springs Partners at a recent meeting of the Braselton Planning Commission, said the complex would be similar to The Overlook Apartments in Gwinnett, a development behind the Gwinnett Braves' stadium.

Mahaffey said diversity in the commercial and retail market is needed in the area, noting that the South Hall campus of the Northeast Georgia Medical Center planned for Ga. 347 will bring a need for housing options.

"We think this mixed use will be an asset to the Town of Braselton and will have a positive impact on the town and its tax base," Mahaffey said.

Planning commission members unanimously recommended approval but not without some conditions.

They asked about the proximity to The Oaks at Braselton, an assisted living facility opening this spring, and whether infrastructure, specifically water, sewerage and fire protection, was sufficient.

Mahaffey said the property has been in the owner's hands for six years and a lot of time and money has been spent toward intersection improvements. Keller said any needed improvements for sewerage would be the developer's responsibility and that the fire marshal would review the development.

Braselton Planning Director Kevin Keller recommended approval with these conditions: sidewalks to existing infrastructure, a 25-foot buffer on the exterior boundary that abuts private property and that all frontage be heavily landscaped.

Chairman Allan Slovin said the developers are likely to begin building immediately.

"Twelve years ago, you wouldn't have had any of this," said Slovin. "This will be architectured to a higher standard than anything else in the area."

The Braselton Town Council will conduct a public hearing on the rezoning at 4 p.m. Thursday.