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County approves rezoning and CUP for Peach State Truck Centers; developer pledges local hiring efforts
Summary
The board approved a land-use amendment, rezoning, and conditional-use permit allowing Peach State Truck Centers to redevelop and expand at Frontage Road/Maro Road in Forest Park. Approval included conditions on site plans, photometric lighting, lot consolidation and a workforce-recruitment agreement to hire locally and host job fairs; the applicant agreed to strike a mandatory Clayton State partnership but said it will pursue such outreach voluntarily.
Clayton County commissioners approved a package of zoning actions June 16 to allow Peach State Truck Centers to consolidate parcels, rebuild a state-of-the-art tractor-trailer sales and service facility, and expand operations along Frontage Road and Maro Road in Forest Park.
Battle Law attorney Josh Mahoney presented the proposal, explaining the site has operated as a truck-sales and service location for decades and the application aligns land-use and zoning across three parcels. Staff recommended approval with conditions and the zoning-advisory group added a suggested partnership with Clayton State University; county counsel advised that a university partnership cannot legally be required as a condition.
The board's approved conditions require that the development be built substantially as presented, that the applicant submit a comprehensive photometric lighting plan before site development permits, and that the three parcels be formally combined prior to Phase 1 permits. As a condition for expedited review the developer agreed to partner with Clayton County Economic Development to recruit local residents for the anticipated 70 positions, to host or participate in two local job fairs annually, and to submit annual workforce residency verification reports for three years after certificate of occupancy.
The applicant and county staff said the developer will attempt discussions with Clayton State University but the university partnership was removed as a mandatory condition; the applicant expressed willingness to pursue such a collaboration voluntarily.
Commissioners said the site improvements should raise the corridor's appearance and create local hiring opportunities. One commissioner urged staff to press state transportation officials to repair Frontage Road, which commissioners said suffers potholes from heavy vehicle traffic.
The board voted to approve the land-use amendment, rezoning to heavy industrial for the target parcels, and the conditional-use permit subject to the four primary conditions (site/elevations, photometric plan, lot combination, and workforce recruitment requirements).
