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City approves Rural King site changes after council requires screening and limits equipment size
Summary
Council approved OZI2025‑004 to amend the Regal Theater site at 2480 East West Connector for a Rural King store, authorizing expanded outdoor display areas and a bullpen while requiring additional screening and limiting on‑site farm equipment to smaller models (21–25 hp).
Mableton — The City Council voted Dec. 10 to approve OZI2025‑004, allowing Rural King (AJM Mableton Georgia LLC) to amend the stipulated site plan for the former Regal Theater at 2480 East West Connector to permit expanded outdoor displays and a fenced 'bullpen' area.
Staff told the council that the applicant’s initial figure of 12,025 square feet for outdoor display differed from a full tally that included the bullpen and sidewalk display areas; staff and the applicant identified a combined total of roughly 31,950 square feet when all display areas were counted (12,025 sq ft outdoor display; 10,750 sq ft bullpen; 9,150 sq ft sidewalk display).
Attorney Chris Twyman and company representative William Gregory told the council Rural King would comply with recommended conditions, provide additional landscaping and screening, and renovate the property’s facade. They said the store would create local jobs (they estimated roughly 80–100 positions) and had already begun cleanup and security work at the site.
Council members pressed the applicant on the intended uses of fenced display areas, the appearance of the facade and whether large farm equipment would be stored or sold. Rural King representatives said this location would carry only smaller 'hobby' tractors and implements suitable for residential and small‑scale use and agreed to limit equipment to smaller horsepower ranges; council settled on language narrowing equipment at this site to the 21–25 hp range. The applicant agreed to submit final fencing and screening options to Community Development for staff approval as a condition of occupancy.
Councilwoman Deborah Herndon moved to approve the OZI with amendments to the equipment size and to include the revised total outdoor display square footage; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The council also discussed community requests that the developer address the parking lot and facade appearance as part of the project’s implementation.
Next steps: the applicant will provide final fencing/screening and facade materials to Community Development, and staff will ensure the approved total square footage and equipment size limits are reflected in the permit and occupancy requirements.
