Sunday, March 31, 2002
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Sunday, March 31, 2002 |
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Retail request approved by P&Z By MONROE ROARK
Local retailer J&R Clothing is a step closer to locating in Fayetteville. The city's Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night recommended approval of a rezoning request by Richard Dumas, owner of J&R Clothing, for a tract of land known as the Davis property on Ga. Highway 85, directly across from New Hope Road. Dumas plans to develop a 34,600 sq. ft. retail center and move his existing Fayette County store from its present location on Hwy. 85 near the Clayton County line to anchor the new center. The commission also approved the necessary change in the city's future land use map after the rezoning was approved. A variance request for a reduction in the required number of parking spaces at the shopping center was granted, but a request for a curb cut variance was denied. The land use map called for business park use on this site, and commission Chairman Myron Coxe said he saw no reason to change that. "I would like to personally invite you to Fayetteville," he said to Dumas after the applicant expressed his interest in becoming a part of the community. "But this use doesn't fit our land use plan, and there are plenty of available places in the city that already [fit what Dumas wants to do]." But commissioner Allen Feldman dismissed any proposed rigidity in the future land use plan, saying that it is already "down the toilet" with regard to the southside master plan now in discussion, which Feldman said is an example of changing the land use map after the developers decide how they want it to look. Planning Director Jahnee Prince, when asked about the proposed uses elsewhere in the area, said that business park uses are designated on that side of the highway all the way north to Pine Trail. But Feldman said that there are vacant business park spaces throughout the area already, and with what is already in the vicinity of the site in question, "I can be flexible with the land use map here." A broker representing the owner of the property said that it has been for sale for 10 years, and the owner, who is nearly 90 years ago, needs to sell it and relocate to another home as soon as possible. Commissioner Jim Crain moved to recommend approval of the rezoning, and it passed 3-1, with Kevin Bittinger voting against. Derryll Anderson, the newest commissioner, abstained from the vote. Feldman's subsequent motion to change that portion of the future land use map to community commercial passed 5-0. Coxe moved to deny the variance request regarding curb cuts, which Dumas wanted 350 feet apart instead of the normal 500 feet. That motion passed 4-1, with Feldman voting against. Dumas' request to drop from the required 173 parking spaces to 140 was approved 5-0. The rezonings must be approved by the City Council. The variance decisions are final unless the applicant chooses to appeal to the City Council.
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