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Council approves conditional-use permit for Towne Lake Parkway gas station; keeps sign condition but waives waiting period for future waiver request
Summary
The Woodstock mayor and council voted 6-0 May 19 to approve a conditional-use permit allowing a convenience store and fuel station at 195 Towne Lake Parkway, subject to planning conditions and a narrow concession on future sign review.
The Woodstock mayor and council voted 6-0 May 19 to approve a conditional-use permit request to operate a fuel station and convenience store at 195 Towne Lake Parkway, a site near the I-575 northbound off-ramp. Planning staff recommended approval with conditions addressing fuel dispensers, lighting, signage, EV charging, landscaping and the accessory car wash.
Planning staff member Mr. Dunn described the site as an existing 1,300-square-foot convenience store with four pumps and an accessory car-wash tunnel and said "a fuel station is a conditionally permitted use" where shown in the downtown-general-commercial zoning. He noted the parcel has hosted fuel and auto uses in prior decades and that the applicant proposes a 780-square-foot addition to the building, updated pumps and a canopy rehab to match the fuel retailer's brand.
State permits and underground tanks: Council members asked about the condition of existing underground storage tanks. Mr. Dunn said the city relies on state permits and documentation; staff reported the applicant told planning bodies the tanks have passed state testing. The applicant, engineer Aaron Wadley, said the tanks "appear to comply" and that the client will replace tanks if later testing requires it.
Signage dispute and council resolution: Staff recommended removing an additional existing monument sign as part of the conditions. The applicant asked to retain and reskin the existing sign for visibility; planning commissioners and staff warned the sign is legally nonconforming to current sign code. After discussion, council approved the CUP including staff recommendation on signage but added a direction to waive any waiting period for the applicant to return with a sign-waiver request directly to council (rather than delaying for an administrative or reapplication period). Several councilmembers emphasized they would not support an electronic/LED sign if a waiver is later requested.
Other conditions and coordination: The CUP approval ties to improvements required by future GDOT work at the nearby interchange; staff said easements will be necessary and that the applicant has coordinated with GDOT. The council also required payment into the city's tree fund to offset limited on-site planting given the GDOT project.
Vote and motion: Councilman Aiken moved approval with staff conditions; Councilman Potts seconded. The motion carried 6-0.
Ending: The motion authorizes the site improvements and the convenience store expansion subject to the planning conditions; the council left the monument-sign question open for a near-term waiver application so the applicant can return quickly with a proposed sign design for council consideration.
