Buford City Commission approves rezoning for Thunder Road development, several land-use permits; denies one annexation

The Buford City Commission on Oct. 7 approved a rezoning of 403 Thunder Road from C-2 to R-100 and several related land-use requests, while denying a separate annexation bid.

Chairman Phillip Beard called the public-hearing portion of the meeting before the commission voted on the rezoning request Z-24-27. Applicant Meridith Simes requested the rezoning and Jeff Pruitt spoke on her behalf; no one spoke in opposition. The commission approved the rezoning subject to a set of conditions that must be met before building permits are issued, including submittal of a final plat under the City of Buford Development Regulations (Article 10); compliance with R-100 lot-width and area standards; submittal of a house location plan approved by the Planning Director; four-sided brick or stone construction with exterior accents limited to 20% per elevation; a minimum gross heated floor area of 3,400 square feet (exclusive of garages and basements); a minimum two-car garage; 18-foot minimum driveways; sodded front, side and rear yards with two 3-inch ornamental trees in the front yard; road improvements (curb, gutter and 5-foot sidewalks) along Thunder Road; and an 8-foot privacy fence adjacent to the neighboring property owned by Gentry Wade. The development must record homeowners association covenants on the deed and limit rentals to no more than 10% of the recorded development. The motion to approve the rezoning was moved by Chris Burge and seconded by Jeff Pruitt and passed 3–0.

The commission also approved Special Use Permit SUP-24-18 for an automotive wrap and window tinting business at 4365 South Lee Street, Suite E03. Applicant Sukkyu (Andrew) Lee was present. The permit is conditioned on all automotive work occurring inside the building, a prohibition on outdoor operations and outdoor storage of parts or equipment, and a caveat that the permit expires if the business vacates the space. Commissioners approved the SUP by a 3–0 vote.

On annexations, Charles and Jesslyn Laughlin’s request (Plat #698) to annex 5598 Shadburn Ferry Road into the city and maintain RA-200 zoning was approved with conditions similar to those applied to the Thunder Road rezoning: a single-family home only, four-sided exterior materials with minimum heated area of 3,400 square feet, material proportions (74% shakes / 26% brick or stone) as approved by the Planning Director, 18-foot driveway minimum, sodded perimeter yards and two ornamental front-yard trees. Gwinnett County did not object to the request. The vote was 3–0.

A separate annexation request from Robert Odom and Linda Liles for 1806 Jimmy Dodd Road (Plat #699) was denied after discussion; the record indicates the denial carried 3–0 but the transcript does not state the commission’s rationale for denial.

The commission also approved a zoning modification (ZM-24-06) requested by Ronnie Rodriguez of Georgia Premier Land Service to permit motorcycle parts and service in a front utility building on a C-2 site that holds a boat-storage special use permit. A neighbor had complained of noise generated by motorcycles being tested on the property. The commission’s approval includes requirements that all service occur inside the building, that there be no outside display or sales, no outdoor storage of parts or discarded material, and that hours be limited to 8 a.m.–5 p.m. The motion carried 3–0.

All land-use approvals are conditioned on compliance with the City of Buford Development Regulations, and specific items (for example the house location plan and exterior material approvals) require sign-off by the Planning Director before permits are issued.

The commission’s land-use decisions take effect as recorded in the meeting minutes and through any required plat recordation or permit approvals; applicants must meet the spelled-out conditions before construction or operation begins.