The council approved the Kroger final plat but directed staff to hold signature/recording and to withhold a certificate of occupancy (CO) until technical plat comments are addressed and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) provides written confirmation that the new traffic signal and intersection are functioning and safe for the traveling public.

Mark, representing Southeastern Development (project owner), and representatives from Kroger and the project team attended the meeting and described construction progress. Planning staff (Hugh) told the council that several technical comments remained on the final plat — primarily administrative and mapping items such as bearing distances, line tables for easements and notations that the city does not maintain stormwater infrastructure outside dedicated right-of-way. Staff recommended approving the final plat at the meeting but holding final signature and recording until the comments were addressed.

City staff and the developer reported GDOT inspectors were on site and conducting signal testing; GDOT indicated it would issue written confirmation once the signal inspection was complete. Council members and staff were explicit that the CO would not be issued and Kroger would not be allowed to open unless the city received the GDOT acknowledgment that the signal was operational and the intersection was safe. Staff and the developer estimated about two days for the remaining final‑plat comments to be cleared and indicated a target of having the plat signed and recorded by Friday if comments were resolved.

Council and staff also discussed other practical issues tied to opening: Atlanta Gas Light work has delayed final roadway certification in portions of the project, Georgia Power is involved in energizing the signal, and the police department was participating on-site to manage traffic during testing. Staff said the city would withhold CO issuance if the intersection was not functioning safely and that building permits for remaining lots in the development would be restricted until the final plat recorded.

Developers asked staff to consider small aesthetic changes — notably, a request to research whether the newly installed signal poles could be painted black to match other downtown poles. City staff agreed to investigate technical and safety constraints and report back; no commitment or timeline was given.

Action: a council member moved to approve the final plat with the conditions detailed by planning staff (hold signature/recording until comments addressed; require GDOT written confirmation before CO issuance) and a second was recorded. The motion passed.

Ending

The council approved the final plat subject to the conditions; staff will not issue a certificate of occupancy or allow Kroger to open until GDOT provides written confirmation that the traffic signal and intersection are functioning and safe and until the final‑plat comments are addressed and recorded as required.