A group of more than 200 people aiming to stop further development in Little Hall Cove on Lake Lanier won a battle against an Atlanta developer.

Hall County commissioners voted 4-1 to deny Portofino at Lake Lanier's request to build 284 homes on 232 acres near Duckett Mill Road off Dawsonville Highway (Ga. 53).

Portofino at Lake Lanier, led by well-known Atlanta real estate developer Fred Milani, still owns a large majority of the land, aside from a 14-acre lot on which a landowner had partnered with the developer. Portofino still has plans for the land, but neighboring residents of the property were glad to see the project's current modifications denied.

Portofino at Lake Lanier attorney Robert Stein was flanked by the development's project manager, an expert in the project's sewer system and an expert regional planner from Georgia Tech. They argued the project's lot density fit the county's comprehensive plan and was more suited for the area than surrounding communities.  
 
"There is significant precedence to what we've requested," said Stein, pointing out that two other large-scale developments in the county, Harbour Point and Del Webb's Village at Deaton Creek, were designed with smaller lot sizes.  
 
The developer had removed plans to build a boat storage facility on the opposite side of Duckett Mill Road, shifted a community marina to allow additional room in the cove and reduced dock numbers.   

Story from Gainesville Times: http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/stories/20070309/localnews/160681.shtml