Romada Sissay, representing Afomania Inc., presented a request to rezone two parcels near Covington Highway so she can expand a long-standing African hair-braiding salon and add a boutique and low-traffic office functions. The presentation, given at the City of Stonecrest’s Dec. 11 Community Planning Information Meeting, described the business’s history in DeKalb County since 1993 and an earlier rezoning of nearby 7505 Covington Highway in 1998.

"So today, I'm requesting to rezone the property adjacent to that one…extending the business at 7511 Covington Highway," Sissay said, explaining the 7511 parcel would be salon/retail while the rear parcel at 6760 would be used as an office for consultations, online sales and cultural programming. She told commissioners the office would produce minimal nighttime activity and that the project would create jobs and cultural enrichment for Stonecrest residents.

Why it matters: The applicant framed the proposal as small-business expansion with cultural benefits for the predominantly residential corridor. Opponents said safety and traffic conditions at the 90-degree turn where Chubb Road meets Covington Highway make added development risky.

Resident CA Nation, who said he lives at 6722 Chubb Road, told the meeting: "We have had multiple accidents and at least two fatalities" at the turn and asked the city to "reconsider and not add to the chaos there." He said residents feel neglected by county enforcement and emergency routing that increases noise and traffic on the residential street.

Staff next steps: Planning staff reminded participants that written comments will be included in the record and that both rezoning petitions will be scheduled for a Planning Commission public hearing on Jan. 6, 2026, with subsequent Mayor and Council consideration on Jan. 26, 2026.

Closing details: At the close of the discussion staff reiterated notification procedures and the timeline for future hearings. The applicant emphasized cultural programming, retail of African goods and training services in addition to salon operations as part of the rezoning request. No formal vote was taken at the Dec. 11 meeting; the petitions proceed to the January hearings.