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Commissioners approve rezoning, conditional use permit for proposed Aldi on Brown Bridge Road
Summary
The Newton County Board of Commissioners approved REZ24-000011 and CUP24-000013 to allow a 20,000-square-foot Aldi grocery at 12862 Brownbridge Road with staff conditions including a right-in/right-out entrance, architectural standards and required permitting.
The Newton County Board of Commissioners on April 1 approved a rezoning and companion conditional-use permit to allow a 20,000-square-foot Aldi grocery at 12862 Brownbridge Road.
Planning staff told the board the proposal, REZ24-000011 with companion CUP24-000013, would rezone two parcels (approx. 2.3 and 1.044 acres) from R-2 and neighborhood commercial to general commercial inside the Salem Overlay Tier 3. Planning Director Shana Applewhite said the project would use an internal drive and a right-in/right-out on Brownbridge Road and that the proposal included architectural and stormwater conditions to meet Salem overlay requirements. "Given the land use and zoning designations of the surrounding properties and the meeting the intent of section 460-020 of the Salem overlay, there is justification for approval," Applewhite said.
Applicant John Queen said the team revised the plan after a community meeting and would use a right-in/right-out entrance to address traffic concerns. "We decided to make that driveway entrance a right turn, right in, right out," John Queen said.
Commissioner Mason moved to approve the rezoning with the recommended staff conditions; the motion carried on a voice vote. Staff conditions require developer-submitted plans for ingress/egress approval by the county transportation engineer, interparcel connectivity where practicable, prohibition of overnight commercial vehicle parking, neutral roof colors, exterior material standards consistent with the Salem overlay, and review and approval of stormwater and related plans by relevant county and state agencies prior to land disturbance.
The conditional-use permit includes additional conditions: compliance with fire marshal occupancy and inspection requirements, environmental health approval prior to business-license release, and the right-in/right-out entrance restriction on Brownbridge Road.
Why it matters: The approval changes the immediate mix of uses along a commercial node that already includes Walmart and fast-food tenants, and the zoning decision carries development standards intended to limit traffic impacts and preserve Salem overlay design goals.
What’s next: The applicant must submit detailed land-disturbance, landscaping and building plans and satisfy Newton County Fire Services, Development Services and state agency review before a business license is issued.
