Romantic and Practical Perspectives

The Romantic Definition

Small farmsteads on Hearn Road in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, evoke a vision of rural charm and tranquility that blends the natural beauty of rolling hills, woodlands, and pastures with a lifestyle rooted in land stewardship and community. The Hearn area is renowned for its unspoiled, picturesque landscapes, quiet rural roads, and strong community values around conservation and sustainable living. Living on a small farmstead on Hearn conjures images of:

• Waking up to the sounds of nature and livestock

• Enjoying locally grown food, open skies, and unobstructed views of forests and fields

• Gathering eggs from backyard coops or harvesting vegetables from lush gardens

• Participating in a setting that preserves the “rural character” and natural serenity, even as Atlanta is less than an hour away

• Walking or riding along trails that connect to vibrant but carefully planned village centers

The Practical Definition

From a planning and regulatory point of view, small farmsteads—often called “farmettes” in Chattahoochee Hills—are large-lot rural subdivisions that allow homeowners to build a custom home, barns, outbuildings, and maintain gardens or even keep some livestock.

Key practical details:

• Farmstead Subdivisions: Defined by local ordinances as large-lot residential subdivisions of rural land, often processed administratively by the zoning board, with multiple lots for small-scale residential hobby farms. The Hearn Road District is applying for a Variance to rezone as such.

• Typical Size: Farmsteads on Hearn are envisioned to consist of 3 to 7 acres per lot—enough space for a home, vegetable gardens, accessory dwelling unit, and sometimes sheep pastures or small herds.

• Conservation Focus: Strict land-use rules ensure that much of the land is preserved for agriculture or forest, with limits on overdevelopment and incentives for sustainable land use, per the comprehensive plan. Similarly, the Farmsteads will maintain a 70% protection of green space (can be placed into conservation) while focusing the built environment on the remaining 30% of the property.

• Agricultural Activity: These small farmsteads can operate as hobby farms, small-scale ranches, or organic farms supplying local markets and restaurants; land use is flexible but will center on family sustenance and community farming and consumption.

• Location and Community: These properties are intentionally connected via trails or roadways to our neighboring village centers, enabling a blend of rural living with walkable and easy drive access to amenities.