Conyers City Council adopts multiple zoning and annexation ordinances, clears AutoZone special-use permit

The Conyers City Council on a voice vote adopted a package of land‑use and zoning measures Tuesday night, approving a special‑use permit for an automotive parts store, a text amendment to limit new automotive repair businesses in a corridor, a rezoning of downtown parcels to a light‑industrial subarea, and an annexation with accompanying land‑use change for a Highway 138 parcel.

Staff presented the first public hearing item, Ordinance 1456, recommending approval of a special‑use permit for AutoZone to occupy Suite 106 at the Northside Village Shopping Center (425 Sigmund Road). City planner Ryan told council the approval carries one condition: the permit is limited to an automotive parts store and “shall not extend to allow a tire store.” Applicant representative Louie Milano said the request is consistent with the property’s long history of retail use and that design details remain at preliminary stages. No members of the public signed in to speak for or against the request. Councilmember Valencia moved to adopt the ordinance and the motion carried by voice vote.

In a city‑initiated text amendment, Ordinance 1457, staff recommended removing automotive repair and maintenance as an allowed use within the Gateway Village District along Highway 138 (a roughly 1.3‑mile corridor). Planning staff told council the district currently contains 11 automotive repair businesses and said the amendment would prevent new such businesses in the corridor, rendering existing operations legal nonconforming. Council approved the text amendment by voice vote following brief discussion about corridor character.

Separately, Council adopted Ordinance 1458 to rezone 12 properties bounded by North Main Street and Railroad Street from Downtown Center to the Downtown Light Industrial subarea. Staff described the change as a transitional zoning to reconcile adjacent heavy industrial uses and to remove multiple nonconforming parcels; planning commission recommended approval after one property owner spoke in favor.

Council also handled a linked annexation and land‑use amendment for a 0.722‑acre parcel at 1285 Highway 138. Staff said GDOT acquired easements for a roadway project and future access to the parcel will be from the rear; city staff recommended rezoning the property to MXD (Mixed Use Development). The council approved the annexation (Ordinance 1453) and subsequently adopted the comprehensive land‑use amendment and rezoning (Ordinance 1454) after briefly tabling the land‑use item to follow the correct procedural order.

All the ordinances were adopted on motions that passed by voice vote; the formal vote tallies were not recorded in the public transcript.

What happens next: the ordinances take effect as provided in each ordinance text and staff will handle any permits or follow‑up steps (building permits, design review) required under the city’s code. The AutoZone approval includes the explicit limitation that a future tire store would require a separate application.