A planned $700 million, 508-acre multiuse development in South Hall can move forward, now that it has gotten the Hall County Board of Commissioners’ approval.

The board voted Thursday to OK a rezoning that would allow Peachtree City-based ARW Group to develop Atlanta River Walk off Old Winder Highway/Ga. 211 at Union Church Road.

After the vote, the developer got a chorus of “good lucks” from the commission.

“I think you will change the face of South Hall if you’re able to pull this off,” Commissioner Scott Gibbs said. “We’ll be your biggest fans.”

“This is going to be an exciting project that’s going to be very transformative … and is going to be very good for your community,” said Otis Aleman, an engineer representing ARW.

The proposal also drew support from Oakwood resident Clifton McDuffie, former CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.

“This project brings nothing but quality to that area,” he told commissioners in urging them to approve the proposal.

The project calls for some 265 single-family homes, 215 townhomes, 600 multifamily units, 242,000 square feet of retail space and 424,000 square feet of office space.

ARW Group’s plans also call for a 200-room hotel, 20,000-square-foot convention center, 50,000-square-foot grocery store and 60,000-square-foot theater.

But its main feature is construction of “a man-made feature similar to a river and surrounding it with world-class mixed-use development,” ARW Group principal Jorge Duran has said.

The proposal has drawn concerns from some residents, with worries including traffic, noise and environmental impacts.

Hall planning staff had recommended approval of the project, as long as certain conditions are met. One concern is traffic.

“Staff is recommending that the developer work with Hall County engineering and/or (Georgia Department of Transportation) on determining the road improvements necessary to serve this development,” states a county document.