Cherokee County weighing zoning text changes, special-use permits for gas stations and car washes amid 90-day moratorium

Cherokee County planning staff presented draft zoning-text amendments to address a recent surge of gas stations and car washes countywide and asked the Board of Commissioners for direction as staff prepares a public hearing on the changes.

The board adopted a 90-day moratorium on new applications for gas stations, car washes and associated convenience stores on April 1; that moratorium is set to expire around June 30. Thomas, planning staff, said the staff proposal is intended to clarify definitions and add use conditions to the zoning ordinance so the county can better manage where and how these businesses locate.

The draft work includes two new definitions — for “car wash” and for “gasoline station” — lifted from NAICS (Census industry classifications) language and local examples, and a set of six proposed supplemental regulations. Thomas summarized the intent: “So we're looking at reviewing the impact of gas stations. Those could be with or without convenience stores as well as car wash facilities. And we'll review kind of how many and where they're located in each of your districts.”

Why it matters: commissioners said rapid growth of these uses — concentrated along Highway 92 and Bells Ferry Road, particularly in District 4 — could bring environmental and neighborhood impacts the county wants to limit through zoning tools rather than allowing unfettered commercial buildout. Commissioner Ragsdale said the objective is preservation: “my intent was…