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Council denies conditional-use permit for used-car sales at 334 Dahlonega Street, 3-2
Summary
The city council voted 3-2 to deny a conditional-use permit that would have allowed a used-auto sales business at 334 Dahlonega Street, despite a unanimous planning commission recommendation to approve and concessions from the applicant.
The city council denied a conditional-use permit for a used automobile sales business proposed at 334 Dahlonega Street, voting 3-2 during the council meeting. The applicant sought approval to operate a sales lot under conditional-use permit 2025047.
Planning staff Scott read the planning commission report into the record, saying the property is zoned highway business, the future land-use designation is general commercial and the planning commission unanimously recommended approval after receiving no public comments at its hearing. Scott also said the applicant had submitted a revised site plan and agreed to conditions, including limits on display spaces and buffering.
Sean Courtney, an attorney with Lipscomb Johnson representing the applicant, told the council the site is about 1.34 acres and the applicant, Armin Connie, plans site improvements, landscaping and limits on frontage displays. “It would only be allowed for 11 cars in front of gates,” Courtney said, and the applicant had agreed to landscaping islands, fencing and revised signage to improve the property’s appearance.
Armin Connie, the applicant, described his business model and customer service: “I actually have a different, you know, business model where I help the customers after the sale ... repair their cars for them at no cost for 3 months,” he said, adding he lives nearby and wants to be part of the community.
Council discussion emphasized the condition of the property but also the community’s concern about the number of existing car lots. One councilmember who moved to deny the permit said, “we just simply have too many car lots in the city as it is.” Another councilmember, Christopher, said the application “sets the standard” compared with other car lots but acknowledged resident opposition and zoning limits in the small city.
The motion to deny CUP 2025047 carried 3-2. Under the permit as presented, the applicant had offered to limit front-of-lot displays to specified luxury makes and to make site improvements; those concessions did not change the council’s outcome.
The planning commission’s recommendation to approve and the applicant’s proposed conditions are recorded in the administrative record; the denial leaves the property in its current zoning status.
Council action on this item concluded with the denial vote; there was no motion to remand the application back to the planning commission during the meeting.
