Devlopment plans, not protests, cited as reason for tabling request

By MONROE ROARK
mroark@thecitizennews.com

Plans for a Hooters restaurant in Fayetteville are on hold indefinitely, and although it officially has nothing to do with recent protests of the restaurant chain's philosophy, local residents were obviously glad to hear the news at Tuesday night's Fayetteville Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.

The development plan for the proposed restaurant on Ga. Highway 314 at Banks Road was tabled with almost no discussion, in response to a prior written request from Hooters management. Neither Hooters nor JDN Development, who is developing that site, had a representative at the meeting.

Planning Director Maurice Ungaro told the audience that the request to table the matter came about due to conflicts with the overall development of the Fayetteville Retail Center, a JDN project that includes the Applebee's restaurant and Eckerd drug store adjacent to the proposed Hooters site. “The developers are not prepared to go forward,” he said.

“There are legal issues outstanding with the development, and this commission can take no action until these are resolved,” said commission Chairman Myron Coxe. “This will be on next month's agenda unless the applicant withdraws.”

Coxe did not say exactly what the legal issues were, but about 100 people in the audience were satisfied, as they applauded and began leaving the meeting after the vote to table passed unanimously.

A letter sent July 18 by Ungaro to JDN stated that required improvements to Banks Road had not been completed and the city did not yet have a signed development agreement concerning the overall site.

The city would not approve any further work at the Fayetteville Retail Center until these matters were resolved, according to Ungaro.

As a result of this action, Hooters of America Inc. Vice President of Marketing Mike McNeil issued a statement Tuesday outlining the company's desire to table the development plan for the proposed Fayetteville location.

He stressed that this action was in no way related to complaints by local residents about the Hooters philosophy, but was solely due to the ongoing problems between the developer and the city.

“We are hopeful that these issues can be resolved in a timely manner,” McNeil stated.

“Hooters of America is committed to developing a Hooters in Fayette County.”