Commission approves Los Muways relocation with 50-foot buffer, removes Old Dallas access after heated public comment

Paulding County planning and zoning commissioners on May 26 approved a rezoning request that will let Los Muways relocate and build a roughly 6,000-square-foot restaurant, but only after adding conditions intended to limit noise and impacts on adjacent homes.

The commission voted to rezone about 1.76 acres from R2 (suburban residential) to B1 (general business) for applicant Jesus Rodriguez, and attached five staff stipulations plus new requirements that the commission added: a 50-foot undisturbed buffer along Old Dallas Aworth Road, elimination of vehicle access onto Old Dallas Aworth, and that any outdoor patio face Highway 92 away from nearby residences. The motion passed unanimously.

The vote followed more than the allotted public-comment time; dozens of supporters described Los Muways as a long-standing community business, while several immediate neighbors urged denial, saying the proposed restaurant is too close to homes and would worsen noise, litter, lighting and traffic. "My bedroom window is 100 feet from that corner," said Joanne Bowington, who told commissioners she has lived on the road for 46 years and said the project would force her indoors at night. Bruce Bishop, speaking for neighbors, raised worries about narrow local roads, late-night traffic and existing trash behind the current restaurant site.

Jesus Rodriguez told the commission the family-owned restaurant has been part of the community for years and that he wants to stay in the area after being forced from a prior lease. "We want to be good neighbors," he said, agreeing to work with neighbors and staff on trash control, lighting and traffic matters.

Commissioners and staff questioned parking, sewer and access. County staff said sewer service will require a long run — roughly 1,400 feet to the nearest connection — and that access, drainage and parking will be resolved in plan review. The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) will need to coordinate any work tied to the adjacent Highway 92 widening project (PI00006857), staff said.

During deliberations commissioners proposed the undisturbed-buffer condition and removal of the Old Dallas access after several residents described sleep disruption from late-night music and concerns about loitering. The applicant accepted those additional stipulations in the hearing and said the outdoor patio could be located on the Highway 92 side to reduce neighborhood impacts.

Next steps: the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the jurisdiction that will hold the final zoning decision. Because this parcel may be annexed into the adjacent city for zoning review, the city council will hold its own public hearings if the annexation proceeds. The applicant will then complete engineering and plan-review requirements, including coordination with DOT on driveway access and any required traffic study.

Provenance: Topics introduced in the public hearing beginning at SEG 944 and continuing through SEG 2419; the motion adopting added stipulations and the vote occur at SEG 2364–SEG 2419.

Ending: With the stipulations in place, commissioners said they had balanced neighborhood concerns with support for the business; the recommendation now moves forward to the next reviewing jurisdiction for final action.