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Applicant wins rezoning and limited used-car permit for Hickory Flat Highway site
Summary
The planning commission recommended rezoning about 0.92 acres to R40 and 1.12 acres to General Commercial and approved a special-use permit for limited, appointment-only used-car sales with conditions limiting cars for sale to five and nontransferability of the permit.
The joint Cherokee County Planning & Zoning Commission and Commission recommended rezoning two small tracts at 8572 Hickory Flat Highway and approved a special-use permit that will allow appointment-only used-car sales under specific conditions.
At a public hearing, staff described the request and noted the applicant seeks rezoning of 0.92 acres to R40 (single-family) and 1.12 acres to General Commercial and two variances related to internal buffers and existing pavement within a 35-foot buffer. Lee Scott, who said he was "representing Mr. Gowen as a favor to a friend," told commissioners the business has operated similarly prior to 2012 and that the owner, who bought the property in 2020, seeks to bring the property into compliance rather than to expand an open-lot car dealer. "So he began the rezoning process," Scott said.
The applicant described the operation as primarily a restoration business. One speaker who identified himself as Chris Allen said, "We restore older cars," and explained that sales are occasional and by appointment. Commissioners and staff cited aerial photos showing as many as 30 vehicles on the property in 2024 and pressed the applicant for concrete limits. The applicant agreed the business could accept a condition limiting the number of vehicles offered for sale at any one time.
After discussion, commissioners voted to recommend approval of the rezoning. On the special-use permit, the Commission approved two conditions: a limit of five cars offered for sale at any one time and that sales occur by appointment only; the permit was also read as tied to the business license for Christopher Goen doing business as North Georgia Corvette and Muscle LLC and nontransferable. Commissioners also approved the requested variances regarding the internal buffer and the pavement encroachment as presented in the staff packet.
The commissions left site-development details (stormwater, signage, lighting and the full special-use permit language) to the subsequent permitting process and staff reports. Under the procedure explained at the start of the hearing, the county commission is expected to take final action at its June meeting.
