It was virtually a done deal before it ever started. But residents of Oakley Township subdivision persisted and were able to get a number of provisions attached to the residential and commercial developments along Oakley Industrial Boulevard near Ga. Highway 138 approved by the Fulton County Commission Wednesday.

Builder D.R. Horton won approval for a rezoning request to construct retail shops and restaurants on 7.3 acres adjacent to the subdivision. And across Oakley Industrial, Carmichael Development received approval to construct 240 apartments, 150 senior living residences and approximately 60 townhomes on a 34.36-acre tract.

Oakley Township residents had strongly opposed both proposals from the beginning. But in the end, said subdivision resident Walter Dawson, the approvals made accommodations for all parties.

“I would rather have seen another development with less traffic but I believe it was a good solution for the residents, the county and the developers,” Dawson said Thursday.

Dawson said Carmichael’s agreement to widen Oakley Road and prohibit traffic onto Oakley Industrial and the agreement by Horton to limit hours of operation at the retail site and install trees and a privacy fence at the property line of adjacent houses provided reasonable solutions to residents’ concerns.

Fulton County’s Community Zoning Board had recommended denial of both requests.

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