Residents oppose Quick Trip’s Old National proposal; company offers safety and environmental safeguards

South Fulton city council heard a lengthy public hearing on Nov. 12 over a proposed Quick Trip (Kwik Trip) store with gasoline pumps and an accessory car wash at the Old National Highway / Jonesboro Road intersection. The application seeks removal of prior conditions, rezoning from C‑2 in the Old National overlay and a special‑use permit to operate the gas station and car wash.

Several nearby residents urged denial, invoking the city’s distance rules and arguing the corridor already has many older, crime‑prone gas stations. Diana Resperus, a District 3 resident, told council the proposal undermines planned improvements along Old National and stressed that the property is within a corridor that has experienced accidents and public‑safety incidents.

“...this isn’t true economic development for us,” Resperus said, urging the council to stand with staff’s recommendation to deny the use permit. Other residents described traffic crashes at the intersection, the proximity of residences and schools and inconsistent public notice for the case.

Kwik Trip’s attorney, Michelle Battle, and company representatives presented project plans and said staff recommended approval of the rezoning portion but recommended denial of the use permit under the city’s 3‑mile ordinance. Attorney Battle said the company is seeking several approvals including a legislative waiver of the 3‑mile radius and a 1,000‑foot residential buffer waiver; she said the chain has limited presence in South Fulton and could bring an upgraded facility to a corridor of aging stations.

A Kwik Trip environmental and operations representative detailed the company’s due‑diligence and safeguards: phase‑1 and phase‑2 environmental studies, modern leak‑detection systems monitored offsite, remedial cleanup where necessary, and drainage controls (a “snout”) designed to keep fuel‑contaminated runoff from entering storm drains. The representative said only one EPD complaint in the regional market was identified (2002) and that it was remediated promptly.

On traffic and safety, Kwik Trip said a traffic study submitted to staff identified left‑turn stacking issues and recommended further signal warrants or modifications; the applicant volunteered to study signal timing changes with GDOT and to remove an access point near the intersection in response to community and GDOT comments. The company also offered conditions including extended sidewalks, enhanced downlighting, real‑time crime‑center cameras and the flexibility to add on‑site security if incidents arise.

Kwik Trip estimated a roughly $6 million store investment (excluding land cost), annual tax/WAG impact around $2 million, and staffing of roughly 24–30 employees for the convenience store plus about 14 positions for the car wash component. The company also said it typically applies for beer/wine sales.

Councilmembers voiced two lines of inquiry: whether required signage and public notice were posted (staff said applicants must post signs and provide photos/affidavits but staff does not have a field team to confirm signs remain posted), and whether the council has authority or precedent to waive the distance rules (council discussed a 2022 waiver for a Cascade Road Quick Trip as precedent).

What’s next: the item was read for first review at this meeting. Council asked staff and the applicant for additional traffic analysis, confirmation of environmental testing and proposed written conditions (sidewalks, lighting, cameras, signal study assistance, and potential on‑site security). The rezoning/special‑use matter will return for a future vote; no final council approval was recorded on Nov. 12.

Notable quotes: “...if you want old national to look better, you should want everything on old national to look better,” Attorney Michelle Battle said, arguing the proposal could raise corridor standards. “Please deny him,” resident Michael Venable said, listing existing gas stations and urging adherence to the 3‑mile rule.

The record shows strong community opposition grounded in safety, traffic, and land‑use concerns alongside company commitments on modern environmental and security practices; council and staff will seek follow‑up information before a final decision.