FORSYTH, Ga. — Monroe County commissioners approved space for new multi-family townhomes in the city of Forsyth.

Local business owners say they’ve been looking for more affordable options to live near their place of work.

Lynn Johnson owns Burty’s Boutique in the City of Forsyth. She says owning a business and living in Forsyth was her original plan.

“It would be nice to live in Forsyth because I do own a business and it would be right down the road,” Johnson said.

But once she started searching for homes, she realized Forsyth was expensive to live. She says some homes were over her limit.

“It was about $450,000, but it needed a lot of work,” she said. “It wasn’t up and ready by any stretch of imagination.”

But having to commute may not be an issue for her soon. George Emami says this is the first townhome project approved in several years.

“We have to have housing for people …