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Planning commission approves rezoning for convenience store, fuel sales, retail and a driving range; recommends stream-buffer variance
Summary
The commission approved a rezoning of roughly 11.5 acres to B1 for a convenience store with fuel sales, retail, a quick-service restaurant and a public driving range and recommended a variance to encroach into a 75-foot stream buffer for internal access; the applicant submitted a traffic study and said it is coordinating with DOT.
The Walton County Planning Commission approved a large rezoning and recommended a variance to allow an internal access connection that would encroach into a 75-foot stream buffer.
Marissa Bridges presented the proposal on behalf of Reed Creek Food Mart LLC and owner James William Buren II. The applicant seeks to rezone roughly 11.5 acres currently zoned A1, A2 and R1 to B1 to accommodate a convenience store with fuel sales, supporting retail and a quick-service restaurant with a drive-through on the northern portion of the site, and a public driving range on the western portion.
Bridges described streets and access work and said the team has begun coordination with the Georgia Department of Transportation and submitted a traffic study. She also described the project’s design approach and said the driving range would include industry-standard netting and shielded lighting to meet night-sky compliance; hours were described as roughly 8 a.m. to about 9–10 p.m. to limit nighttime impacts.
No opposition appeared at the hearing; proponent Billy Mitchell spoke in favor, saying the development would add private investment and expand the tax base. Commissioners asked detailed questions about ingress/egress and noted the submitted traffic study and potential DOT improvements (deceleration and left-turn lanes). The commission moved to approve the rezoning as requested and recommended the variance to encroach into the 75-foot stream buffer for internal interparcel access; the item will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for final action on 55.
