Commissioners table rezoning for McKeever Road commercial development; conditions requested

Hall County commissioners voted to table a rezoning request for a 6.38‑acre property at 5709 McKeever Road after community questions about sewer availability, future road right‑of‑way, fuel deliveries and site operations.

Hall County planning staff said the applicant, Mustaq Musa, seeks to rezone the parcel from Agricultural Residential 1 to Planned Commercial Development for a multi‑use commercial center that would include a convenience store with fuel pumps, car wash, climate‑controlled storage and a grocery building. Planning staff told the board the Planning Commission recommended approval with 11 conditions and that the applicant submitted an updated site plan clarifying underground fuel tank locations.

Applicant Mushtaq Musa said the development is planned in two phases because sewer is not currently available at the site. “Phase 1 would include the large grocery store and the office building and the convenience store on septic. Phase 2, once [Flowery Branch] provides sewer, would include the car wash, storage and restaurant,” Musa said, and added the owners had coordinated with county departments and with Hall County DOT on a proposed roundabout and future road widening.

Residents raised concerns at the public hearing. Shelly Andrews, who lives in Flowery Branch, asked whether building shells were speculative and whether the project would meet gateway corridor landscaping and pedestrian standards, including sidewalks and safe pedestrian connections. She also asked about hours for deliveries and the car wash and whether underground tanks are appropriately set back for future road widening.

The applicant said fuel tanks are located near the corner of the canopy and estimated a single multi‑compartment underground tank of about 20,000–25,000 gallons would serve four pumps. He said fuel deliveries are typically scheduled and could be restricted if the county requires limits. Musa also said the car wash hours had been discussed with planning staff and were recommended by planning commission for 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; a commissioner later proposed changing the car wash start to 7 a.m.

Commissioner discussion focused on potential future right‑of‑way needs for McKeever Road and on ensuring sidewalks and other pedestrian amenities. One commissioner asked whether the owners would dedicate right‑of‑way at no charge; Musa said he would defer that decision to the property owners and developers. County engineering staff said a concept had been provided to the applicant but that staff had not yet verified all setbacks relative to the county’s latest right‑of‑way concept.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to table the application to the April 8 voting meeting and asked the applicant to work with county staff and adjacent property representatives on right‑of‑way, sidewalks, fuel delivery limits and trash pickup hours. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Ending — The applicant agreed to review proposed conditions with county staff and nearby stakeholders; the board asked staff to confirm right‑of‑way needs and to return the item with the applicant’s proffers on delivery scheduling, sidewalk commitments, dumpster/trash pickup hours and a revised car wash hour condition for consideration on April 8.