Lithonia council approves zoning text amendment to allow restaurants in Edge district by special exception

The Lithonia City Council voted March 16 to approve a text amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance that would allow restaurants in the Edge district only by special exception.

Mr. Johnston, the city staff member who introduced the plan during a public hearing, told the council the amendment is intended to let the City consider restaurant proposals on a case-by-case basis. He said that because the Edge district often abuts homes, a special-exception process gives the mayor and council the authority to add conditions addressing traffic, noise and other site-specific impacts.

The proposed ordinance change would amend the Edge-district permitted uses so restaurants are not permitted by right but may be allowed when an applicant seeks a special exception and the council reviews the context of the property.

Council members moved, seconded and voted in favor; the transcript recorded the result as "eyes have it." The transcript did not include a roll-call tally or the names of the motion’s mover and seconder.

Why it matters: allowing restaurants in the Edge district could create new business opportunities along major corridors, but the council limited the pathway to approval by requiring a special-exception hearing so the body can weigh neighborhood impacts and attach site-specific conditions.

What’s next: applicants seeking to open a restaurant in the Edge district will have to apply for a special exception and appear before the council at a public hearing, where the council can set conditions if it approves an application. The transcript did not specify an ordinance number or an effective date for the change.