The retail giant Wal-Mart received its latest approval Tuesday night in its efforts to open a store at Interstate 85 and Sharpsburg-McCollum Road.
In a unanimous vote, the Coweta County Commission approved Wal-Mart’s request for a buffer variance.

According to county information officer Patricia Palmer, the request was to reduce the buffer requirements around the county-owned water tower property on three sides from the required 75 ft to a 25 ft. buffer. She added the request was made because the Wal-Mart needed the space for sufficient parking and because without the reduction driveways would have to be realigned, reducing sight lines, within the property, creating a potential safety issue.

“Because the buffer is along a drive and does not have a residential use, the planning department and the Board of Zoning Appeals recommended approval of the variance request,” she said.

Now that the variance has been approved, Wal-Mart will submit a revised plan for that area including the buffer. .

Preliminary site plan calls for a 176,000 sq.ft. store, but questions still surround how big the store will be and how many parking places would surround the center.

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