Peachtree City has tightened up its industrial zoning rules, which will forbid any retail uses on lots zoned for general industrial use. Another change would allow retail-related uses in limited industrial districts, but the business would be limited to no more than 10,000 square feet in size. The new ordinances were approved unanimously by council Thursday night.

The changes will prevent big box stores from locating on any industrial zoned land in the city. This is key because the city lost a lawsuit last year that would have allowed a Lowe’s Home Improvement Store to be built on an industrially-zoned parcel at the northwest corner of Ga. Highway 74 and TDK Boulevard/Crosstown Road.

The property owner later said that Lowe’s lost interest in the site.

Though the city has a big box ordinance that limits retail businesses to a maximum store size of 35,000 square feet, that ordinance only governs land zoned for commercial use. Thus it doesn’t apply to industrially-zoned parcels. The ordinance would grandfather in current retail businesses that have located in the industrial park. The changes would not affect several churches which have sprouted up in the industrial park, city officials have said.

The ordinance also sets out a specific list of uses that will be allowed for general industrial zoning, such as manufacturing, assembly, distribution, warehousing and office uses, among others.

City Attorney Ted Meeker said any other uses not on the list would not be allowed unless the City Council adopts an amendment to the ordinance. Business owners would not be allowed to seek a variance to this rule, Meeker explained.

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