Friday, May 27, 2005

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PTC Krogers may add gas stations to mix

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Two Peachtree City grocery stores have designs on putting gas stations in their parking lots, city officials have confirmed.

The Kroger company wants to put the gas pumps in at the Braelinn Village and Kedron Village shopping centers. Those plans will be discussed at a future meeting of the city’s planning commission.

The city passed regulations to govern such structures in December 2003, particularly by using architectural controls over the canopies in hopes of creating a softer effect. The city also wants to try and make the structures more aesthetically pleasing with architecture that matches the shopping centers.

The city’s new regulation treats the gas stations as stand-alone outparcels, with architecture that matches the shopping center’s color. Outdoor displays will not be allowed, thanks to the ordinance, and the stations must meet specific lighting requirements also.

The gas station ordinance applies to all businesses that sell pumped gas or other auto services such as emissions testing, and the sale of batteries and tires.