Wednesday, April 11, 2001
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Wednesday, April 11, 2001 |
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Hooters to move into old Shoney's in F'ville By MONROE ROARK
Round two of the quest to bring Hooters to Fayetteville is underway, but it will likely be much different from the first round. City records show that a developer has begun permit applications to locate a Hooters restaurant on Ga. Highway 85 in the building formerly occupied by Shoney's, which closed several months ago. The site is at the junctions of Ga. Highway 314 and Jeff Davis Drive with Hwy. 85. An attempt to open a Hooters in a new building failed last summer when the company could not get beyond the city's Planning and Zoning Commission. More than 100 residents came out in opposition to the request, citing moral reasons because of the Hooters image, but it was problems arising from JDN Corporation's unfinished work on a nearby tract that stopped the project. This time, rezoning is not an issue because none is required. The old Shoney's location has been the subject of Hooters' rumors for a couple of months because it already has the appropriate zoning for a restaurant. The site is zoned C-2, and restaurants are allowed in Fayetteville in C-1 and C-2 zoning districts. According to a copy of a building permit application obtained from City Hall, which was filed within the past week, Hooters of America is listed as the owner of the site at 750 N. Glynn St., and the request is for a remodeling of an existing building. Estimated construction costs are $125,000 for the 4,000-sq. ft. building, the application states. City officials have said that the applicants in this case are not required to come before the Planning and Zoning Commission at all unless structural changes are made to the building itself or a variance to the sign ordinance is requested. Indoor remodeling is governed by the Building Department at the staff level and does not require any type of approval by the City Council or any other governing body. "As long as there are no structural changes, they do not [have to appear before the Planning and Zoning Commission]," said city planning director Maurice Ungaro. The developers have not yet made any application concerning a possible sign, Ungaro added. Officials at Hooters of America's headquarters in Atlanta could not be reached for comment before press time Tuesday.
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