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Planning Commission holds Saks Austell rezoning request, asks for elevations and lighting plan
Summary
On March 4, 2025, the Cobb County Planning Commission voted 3-0 to hold a rezoning request from Saks Austell LLC until May 6, 2025, and asked the applicant to provide building elevations, a lighting plan, and landscaping details amid neighbor concerns about lighting and 24-hour operations.
The Cobb County Planning Commission on March 4, 2025, voted 3-0 to hold a rezoning request from Saks Austell LLC that would change a parcel from R-20 to NRC for a convenience store with fuel sales, retail space and a drive-through restaurant. Commissioners asked the applicant to return with building elevations, a lighting plan, a landscaping plan and other site renderings before the May 6, 2025 meeting.
The request was presented by applicants Junaid Virani and Nen Chagani, who described the proposal as “a state of an art, modern, convenience store” with a quick-service restaurant and fuel sales. Virani said the company has operated about 40 locations in metro Atlanta over roughly 25 years and plans a company-operated site under the trade name Welcome Foods. Virani told the commission the store would offer beer and wine only and that the company prefers to operate 24 hours a day. “We prefer to stay open 24 hours,” Virani said.
Commissioners and staff pressed for details about impacts on nearby residential uses. One commissioner noted the site backs up to an apartment complex and said lighting and noise could affect neighbors; the applicants replied that the building placement and canopies should keep light from reaching residences. The applicants also described security measures, saying the site would include 24-hour surveillance and roughly 40 cameras monitored off-site, with police access to camera feeds.
County staff asked the applicants to submit site plans, elevations and a lighting plan. John (staff member) told the applicants, “the board wants to see elevations of the buildings. We wanna see a lighting plan,” and also suggested landscaping and complete renderings to show how the building will look. The commission cited the upcoming seating of a District 2 commissioner as a reason to delay action so the newly seated commissioner could participate.
A motion to hold the case for 60 days — to the May 6, 2025 hearing — carried 3-0. The board’s action was a hold for more information; no rezoning decision was made at the March 4 meeting. The applicants were instructed to file the requested plans before the next hearing and return to address commissioner questions.
