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City still waiting on Kroger DOT report

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

It may be a while before Senoia residents learn if they will be Krogering anytime soon.

The courtship between Kroger and the city ended in February when the City Council finally approved a conditional use for the shopping center and a parking variance.

But the approval came with strings, as the council asked that any site plan Kroger submitted to the DOT for the shopping center at the intersection at Ga. highways 85 and 16 only show in a right in, right out access across from the Chestlehurst subdivision.

This week, city clerk Debby Hogan said the city still has not received any information from the DOT.

“We think it’s probably going to be another month or two before they complete their review,” Hogan said.

The City Council first tried to pass the Trammel Company’s request without the condition, but the vote failed with only Mayor Bob Hannah and City Councilman Larry Owens supporting it.

Councilman Bill Wood has been the driving force behind making sure there is not a traffic light at the entrance to the Chestlehurst subdivision. Wood said a traffic light would only disrupt traffic flow, since there is another traffic light just 500 feet away at the intersection of the state highways.

City attorney Drew Whalen sympathized with Wood’s feelings, but made it clear the city might be overstepping its bounds.

“The city can’t dictate what the state does on a state highway,” Whalen said.

Still, Wood, Councilman Robert Belisle and Councilman Tony Miller voted to support the shopping center with the restriction added to the site plan.

If the shopping center is approved, the center would also feature a Kroger gas station and other small retail shops.