BALDWIN, Ga. — Cook Construction held an independently organized public participation meeting Tuesday night at Baldwin City Hall, inviting residents to ask questions and voice concerns about the company’s proposed annexation and commercial development along Ga. 365 near Duncan Bridge Road.
The meeting was hosted solely by Cook Construction, which rented the Baldwin City Hall Community Room for the event. It was not sponsored by the City of Baldwin and was not conducted in coordination with the Baldwin City Council. No votes or official action were taken.
Keith Cook, co-owner of Cook Construction and Real Estate, opened the meeting by saying the goal was to address misinformation and hear directly from the community.
“A lot of times when you bring in developments, there’s a lot of miscommunication and a lot of rumors,” Cook said. “We want to make sure you’ve got the right information. If you’ve got any questions whatsoever, let us know.”
Cook introduced company representatives stationed at informational easels throughout the room to discuss traffic, utilities, site layout and the overall concept. Handouts and a project website, accessible by QR code, were also provided.
Cook said the proposed Baldwin project differs from a previously proposed development in Cornelia that collapsed after a lengthy public hearing late last year.
“This is a totally different project than Cornelia,” Cook said. “We dropped the industrial tracts and the residential tracts. This is primarily retail.”
According to Cook, the Baldwin proposal would include a grocery store, retail space, restaurants, assisted living, a gas station and medical office uses. He emphasized that the project is not connected to a data center or residential housing.
Traffic emerged as one of the most common concerns raised by residents, particularly along Duncan Bridge Road and Ga. 365.
Stacey Owensby, a Cherry Circle resident whose property borders the proposed annexation area, questioned Cook representatives about the potential impact on nearby neighborhoods.
“Us Cherry Circle and Level Grove residents got mad because we saw this and it’s right next to where we live,” Owensby said. “It’s just quiet. I just want to give my kids a buffer from all these properties.”
Geoff Cook responded that traffic in the corridor is already increasing and is expected to continue growing regardless of the project, citing rising truck traffic along Ga. 365 and the planned inland port in Hall County.
Keith Cook said traffic improvements would be determined through a state-led process.
“It’s not that I don’t see the concerns,” Cook said. “Everything here will be built to GDOT specifications. GDOT will determine what needs to go there after an in-depth traffic study.”
Baldwin City Councilman Mike Tope said he was encouraged by the turnout and spent much of the evening speaking with residents.
“I’m impressed by it,” Tope said. “I’m glad we’re having the meeting. I’ve been talking more with the citizens.”
Before joining the council, Tope served on the comprehensive plan board that helped
develop Baldwin’s most recent comprehensive plan, adopted last fall. Cook Construction has maintained that the proposed development aligns with that plan.
“It fits like a glove,” Tope said. “That’s our character area we developed for commercial growth along Ga. 365. We wanted designated areas where we could control what goes in there — commercial and industrial, not housing. It fits pretty much in step with what’s in the comprehensive plan.”
Tope said the meeting helped clarify misconceptions surrounding the proposal.
“There’s been a lot of misinformation,” he said. “Having the opportunity to clarify that and help people better understand the project is very important. At the end of the day, it’s up to the citizens. What do we want?”
Cook said residents’ primary concerns centered on traffic, utilities and the project’s potential tax impact.
“One of the things residents need to know is the tax base this could create to help alleviate some of the tax burden for Baldwin citizens,” Cook said. “Traffic and utilities have been big concerns, and we’ve had several meetings with the city on the utility side.”
Following the meeting, Cook said he felt the session achieved its purpose.
“We had the opportunity to have people come out, ask questions and go through the project,” he said. “I think it went well.”
The proposed annexation and zoning requests remain under review by the Baldwin City Council, which previously tabled the items to allow for additional information and public input. No date has been set for a formal public hearing.
