Villa Rica council tables variance request for proposed liquor store facade
Loading...
Summary
Council members tabled a variance request for a proposed liquor store at 113 Commons Way after staff recommended denial and council questioned whether the application established required hardship. The applicant and staff will rework plans; item returns in December.
The Villa Rica City Council on Nov. 11 tabled a variance request for a proposed liquor store at 113 Commons Way after lengthy discussion about whether the application met the city's hardship standard for deviating from the four-sided brick facade rule.
Brecca Carter, interim director of community development, told council staff recommended denial of the variance from section 4-401 because they found no practical hardship and noted the applicant had already modified the building's facade without prior approval. "We did not see a hardship," Carter said, and recommended denial while offering a list of conditions council could adopt if it chose to approve the request.
The applicant, Milan (owner), said the building's existing stucco and a stone water table are part of the structure and that replacing them with brick would require removing footings and extensive foundation work. "If we remove the stucco, then we're taking away from the structure of the building," Milan said, calling that a hardship and saying the proposed Nichiha material would replicate the look of brick while allowing an architectural feature for the store entrance.
Councilmembers pressed the applicant on whether the claimed hardship was structural or self-imposed. Councilmember Montahan noted the variance standard requires proof of hardship and observed that the owner bought the building knowing the ordinance's requirements. Montahan said the record suggested cost and preference rather than an unavoidable hardship.
Tracy Jarvis, building development director, explained the band of stucco above the storefront functions like a wide fascia and cannot support brick without added footings and structural work. "There's really no way to support that," Jarvis said, noting the staff's view that leaving the stucco would defeat the city's facade standards.
Public-safety issues also emerged: the police chief raised concerns about site access and the potential for traffic conflicts at the store's exit onto South Carroll, asking whether a no-left-turn or other traffic controls could be implemented before opening.
Rather than approve or deny the variance, Councilmember (speaker 9) moved to table the item to the December council meeting to allow the applicant and staff to reconcile the plans and return with clear drawings and options. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The council recorded no final vote on variances; the item will return to a future agenda after the applicant works with staff on structural documentation, plan revisions and any required right-of-way or traffic mitigation measures.
