ZAB recommend denial of Hampton-Locust Grove Road discount store

Concept site plan for Hampton-Locust Grove Road at Rocky Creek Road commercial development (Sibley-Miller photo)
Concept site plan for Hampton-Locust Grove Road at Rocky Creek Road commercial development (Sibley-Miller photo)

The zoning advisory board considered a land owner’s request to amend the future land use map and rezone 1.15 +/- acres for commercial use in January. The board followed planning staff’s recommendation and recommended denial of the requests.

The board of commissioners considered the request on February 18. The board denied the comp plan amendment and rezoning request.

The land owner, Jerry Greer of Hampton, GA, requested the change citing difficulties leasing the property for residential use and stated Hampton is under-served by grocery stores or convenience stores. During the meeting, the owner confirmed the proposed development would be a small-box discount store.

Proposal does not conform with buffers or impervious surface requirements

Due to the size of the subject property, the proposed development cannot meet unified land development code (ULDC) requirements to provide separation between commercial and residential uses. The ULDC requires a minimum buffer of forty feet; the applicant has requested an administrative waiver to reduce the buffer to twenty feet with a six foot privacy fence.

The subject property is located within the Towaliga Watershed Protection District. A second administrative waiver would be required to increase the allowable impervious surface coverage from 25% to 55.72%.

The waivers can be granted by planning staff without additional public hearings if the rezoning request is approved.

About Clayton 1418 Articles
Clayton Carte is the founder and owner of MHF News. He founded the site in 2017 to highlight transportation projects. Over time, he began covering other topics like new development so residents can best know what’s happening in our community.