Dalton council approves driveway modification tied to proposed Debo’s Diner rezoning

Dalton — The Dalton Mayor and Council on Monday approved the second reading of ordinance 26-10, a zoning amendment tied to a proposed Debo’s Diner Investments LLC development at 525 and 527 South Tibs Road. The council voted to replace an older condition from a 2008 rezoning that had limited how the property could be accessed.

City staff and the city attorney presented a substitute ordinance that repeals the prior Condition 4 and replaces it with a requirement that, before any further development, the property’s current access on Tibs Road be changed to a ride-in/ride-out configuration and that a new access be constructed approximately 150 feet north of the current access in compliance with Dalton Public Works standards. "Prior to any further development on the property, the current access to the property on Tibs Road shall be modified in compliance with all requirements of the city of Dalton and the Dalton public works department standards such that it will be ride in, ride out only and the new access shall be constructed in compliance with the requirements of the city of Dalton and the Dalton public works department standards approximately 150 ft north of the current access," the city attorney read as part of the ordinance substitute.

Staff and the city’s engineering consultant said the relocated entrance would approximately double sight distance at the driveway, from about 200 feet under the older location to roughly 400 feet in each direction at the proposed location, improving compliance with contemporary engineering standards and traffic safety. The substitute memorializes what the planning commission recommended and what was presented to council at first reading.

A council member moved to approve the ordinance; the motion carried by voice vote. Council thanked the petitioner’s representative for attending. The ordinance affects parcels 12-260-16-0 and 12-260-03-0 and aligns the site with the Dalton Gateway Corridor Overlay District.

The council’s action replaces a longstanding access condition rather than removing all limits on future development; the new requirement links driveway modification to any further development and specifies construction to meet city public-works standards. The council meeting record shows a positive planning commission recommendation and staff support for the change.