Council approves two rezonings on Athens Highway for package stores with drive-throughs

The Arcade City Council on Sept. 8 unanimously approved two rezoning requests to allow package stores with drive-throughs on Athens Highway.

Genuine Mapping and Design, LLC, represented by applicant Ben Drerup, sought RZ-2025-06 to rezone 0.948 acre at 2642 Athens Highway from C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial) to C-2 (Highway Commercial) for a package store with a drive-through and catering business. The council approved the rezoning with four Planning Commission–recommended conditions: (1) the property shall be limited to uses permitted in C-1 plus drive-through, business service and finance establishments; (2) no external loudspeakers; (3) the property must provide inter-parcel access to abutting C-1 or C-2 properties at the time of development (for uses other than the existing home); and (4) such inter-parcel access must be a paved access easement. Council Member Ron Smith made the motion; Council Member Cindy Bone seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

The council also approved RZ-2025-07 to rezone 0.299 acre at 2616 Athens Highway from C-1 to C-2 for a package store with a drive-through. That rezoning was approved with three Planning Commission–recommended conditions: (1) limited uses as specified in C-1 plus drive-through and business service and finance establishments; (2) no external loudspeakers; and (3) provision of inter-parcel access at the time of development for uses other than the existing home. The motion was made by Ron Smith, seconded by Cindy Bone, and passed unanimously.

No public opposition or substantive debate is recorded in the minutes. The minutes list the conditions recommended by the Planning Commission; no additional conditions or appeals were recorded.