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Commission backs rezoning and special‑use permit for Hiram City Road convenience store expansion
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning and special use permit to allow expansion of an existing gasoline station and convenience store contingent on three staff stipulations; the applicant said any major reconstruction would likely occur after planned Highway 61 widening.
The Planning Commission approved a rezoning request and a special‑use permit for a property on the southeast corner of Hiram City Road (State Route 120 Connector) and Villa Rica Highway (State Route 61) to allow an existing gasoline station and a future expanded convenience store footprint under single‑site zoning.
Brad Austin (applicant) and counsel with WK Dixon presented the request to rezone a 0.88‑acre parcel from R‑2 to B‑1 and to place three parcels under a single SUP for the existing store and future expansion. The applicant said the expansion is planned to coordinate with Georgia Department of Transportation's Highway 61 widening and that immediate changes would be limited until GDOT improvements are complete. The applicant also submitted a traffic study and said design and access will be refined during plan review.
The commission approved both the rezoning (motion by Commissioner Steele, seconded by Commissioner Aston) and the SUP (motion by Commissioner Steele, seconded by Commissioner Leggett) with staff‑recommended stipulations; each passed with a 6–0–1 vote. The approvals are recommendations to the Board of Commissioners and will appear on the Board’s September 9 agenda. The applicant was reminded to coordinate with GDOT and to bring detailed elevations and plan documents at final review.
Members of the public asked about potential concurrent construction with GDOT; county staff said the SUP normally requires building permits within certain time frames, but extensions and timing are governed by Board discretion and plan‑review timelines.
