Coweta commissioners grant 6‑month LDP extension, 12‑month operational extension for Newnan package beer-and-wine applicant

At item 5 the board considered a request from Noordin ("Nick") Khaja, doing business as Serve Best Inc., for additional time to meet conditions attached to a previously approved package beer-and-wine license for property at 1253 Laura Smith Road in Newnan.

Staff explained that site and roadway plans and the land‑disturbance permit documentation were in order but that the applicant was awaiting a Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) "orange permit card" tied to a traffic-signal modification and a dedicated right‑turn lane. Staff said the applicant’s civil plans were approved and that GDOT had recently added a traffic-signal revision comment requiring additional design and review before the permit could be released.

Applicant Noordin Khaja told the board he had been "ready since 2023" and described delays with an adjacent church granting a construction easement and with the GDOT review timeline. "We have been back and forth with the church for the last 5 and a half months," his representative said, adding that the pastor’s overseas absence delayed the church’s final signature.

Several commissioners expressed frustration about repeated extension requests but also acknowledged the GDOT dependency and the applicant’s payment of license renewal fees while not operating. After discussion a motion passed to grant a 6‑month extension for the LDP issuance and a 12‑month extension for the store to become operational; the motion carried by voice vote.

The board’s motion requires the applicant to remain actively engaged with staff on outstanding approvals; staff noted that the county will receive GDOT signal-permit documents for county approval as part of the normal intergovernmental review process before construction can commence.