GWINNETT COUNTY, GA-Despite a thumbs down decision previously by the Atlanta Regional Commission, Gwinnett County commissioners have approved Poole Mountain. The estimated $100-million residential community will consist of 967 townhomes and single-family residences.

But the two-phased, 462-acre undertaking off Mount Moriah, Clack and Mineral Springs roads, won't break ground for another year to give the school system time to plan additional classroom space, county staffers confirm for GlobeSt.com. Touchstone Homes and Poole Mountain LLC are the joint venture developers, as GlobeSt.com previously reported.

As part of the approval deal with the county, the developers agreed to limit their home production to 150 residences per year. The county's approval covers only the first 768-home phase of the project. The developers are expected to ask the county later this year to rezone land for an additional 199 homes, area marketing sources familiar with the project tell GlobeSt.com.

The developers also agreed to build about $250,000 worth of intersection improvement; pay for traffic signals; and donate land for turn lanes and other transportation needs. Homes are expected to be priced from $200,000 to $400,000, area brokers following the project tell GlobeSt.com.

Poole Mountain will be about five miles from the 2,200-home golf-oriented Hamilton Mill community and about 40 miles northeast of Downtown Atlanta. Touchstone was one of the major builders at Hamilton Mill.

The Atlanta Regional Commission was not impressed with the Poole Mountain project because it had no retail or other commercial component attached to the plan, as GlobeSt.com previously reported. However, the local government agency always has the final say on developments in its specific area, voiding criticism or disapproval from other regional agencies.