Rezoning request filed for store at Grady Ave, Hwy. 54

A developer wants to rezone residential property at the corner of Ga. Highway 54 West and Grady Avenue for a 24,000 sq. ft. retail center.

But the plans were met with skepticism by the Fayetteville Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night.

Chief among the complaints: the store features parking along Hwy. 54, although it is in the Main Street district, which requires parking to be located in the rear. The property, which would also feature two office buildings in the rear, is located across Grady Avenue from a gas station.

City officials are recommending the rezoning be denied also because the plan is incompatible with the future land use map, which calls for an office usage instead of commercial.

Commissioner Kevin Bittinger said he was very wary of going against the city’s future land use map.

“This may be a fine project, but not for this location,” Bittinger said.

Commissioner Derryll Anderson said she works in the area and traffic gets heavy each weekday when several nearby schools dismiss students for the day.

The developer argued that the property is not located in Fayetteville’s downtown and should not be subject to the parking lot requirements.

The commission will likely vote on the matter at its next meeting, which has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 20. Typically, the commission has two weeks between meetings but that is not the case this month.