A 300-unit apartment complex is planned for property off Cedar Ridge Drive in South Hall.

Larry Sparks, planning director for Oakwood, discussed the potential development Monday night before the Oakwood Planning Commission, which recommended its approval.

The site plan now goes to the Oakwood City Council for final consideration on Oct. 13.

The Walden at Oakwood complex would sit on 30 acres just south of the Robson Crossing Shopping Center, anchored by Publix grocery store, and on land that long has been zoned as multifamily residential, Sparks said.

Cedar Ridge Drive runs off busy Winder Highway, which is being widened to four lanes to Ga. 211.

Last year, the city rezoned the front portion of the property, or about three acres, to planned commercial.

"There were some existing apartments (there that) have been demolished in preparation for commercial development," Sparks said.

The property’s owner/developer is Macon-based Hathaway Development Corp.

In other business, the planning board also recommended the annexation of a nearly 12-acre residential property on Plainview Road and a half-acre home site on Briarwood Drive.

The applicants sought the annexations past the deadline for being considered as part of a citywide "in-fill annexation project" that involved dozens of unincorporated properties scattered around the old part of the city, on streets such as Oakwood Road, Nellie Drive and Mundy Mill Drive.

City officials have described that project as a "friendly" attempt to see if Hall County residents living next door to city property would like to take advantage of city services, such as trash pickup and rapid police response.

City Council unanimously gave its first approval on Sept. 8 to the annexations.

"We’re going to see more of this where (property owners) … didn’t get in on that big push," Sparks said.

In other business, the commission recommended approval of Danny Gilleland’s application to annex .81 acres with zoning changed from Hall County residential to Oakwood highway business.

The property is at 3736 Atlanta Highway, near Old Plainview Road.

Sparks said there are no specific development plans.

Gilleland "has purchased a couple of other tracts in (the area) over the past year or so and gotten them annexed and zoned commercial," Sparks said. "So, when he gets ready to develop it, he hopes he’ll have access to sewer and he’ll be in the city."