Council tables special-use request for used-car lot at 195 Robertson Mill Road pending road-ownership research

The Milledgeville City Council on Feb. 10 tabled consideration of Ordinance O-2512-20, a special-use request to permit a used-car sales lot at 195 Robertson Mill Road, after councilmembers raised questions about ingress/egress and whether the access drive behind the property is a city street.

Adam Shields, who identified himself as the applicant's representative, said he represents Eric and Carla Walter and that a prospective buyer was under contract. Ashley Spires, a nearby business owner who addressed the council, said her own lots typically have 12 to 15 cars, with seasonal peaks up to 35–40 cars, and described how operations work at her location.

Council members asked whether the drive used for prospective access was a dedicated city street, a privately owned drive, or under Georgia Department of Transportation jurisdiction. Council member (speaker 4) noted the city has many examples of named roads that were never deeded to the city and cautioned a new business should not expect the city to maintain a road that is not dedicated. City staff (Jordan) said every business must have access to a public street and that the city would approve with the applicant's understanding that the drive may not be city-owned; staff offered to investigate title and ownership.

Councilmember (speaker 12) moved to table the matter to the next meeting to allow staff time to confirm who owns the roadway, and the motion (seconded by another member) carried on a unanimous roll-call vote.

The council asked staff to report back with title/ownership information, and the applicant indicated willingness to defer. No final approval was given; the item remains pending further staff research.