Planning Commission - 2026-05-05
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The Planning Commission held a lengthy May 5th hearing dominated by the contentious Racetrack gas station rezoning (Z10) at Bells Ferry Rd. and Ernest Barrett Pkwy., which was recommended for approval but with fuel sales prohibited—effectively denying the gas station use. The Commission also approved a car care ministry facility (LUP-10) for McEachern Memorial Methodist Church with conditions, recommended approval for a self-storage facility with ground-floor retail at Sandy Plains and Scuffle Grit roads (Z16/SLUP-5), and held a residential subdivision proposal (Z17) on Old Canton Rd. for further engineering review due to floodplain concerns.
Key Decisions (9)
Rezoning Z10 - Racetrack at Bells Ferry/Barrett Pkwy.
Racetrack Inc. sought NRC rezoning for a 16-pump convenience store with fuel sales at the northwest corner of Bells Ferry Rd. and Ernest Barrett Pkwy. The Commission recommended approval to NRC but prohibited fuel sales, drive-through restaurants, car washes, automotive uses, pawn shops, vape shops, alcohol/liquor sales, and tobacco sales. Entrance on Bells Ferry restricted to right-turn-in only with raised median. Site plan subject to district commissioner approval.
Consent Agenda - Z18 Wadi Investments Flooring Showroom
Rezoning from GC to NRC approved for flooring showroom with storage at Canton Rd. south of Kurtz Rd. in Landlot 733, 16th District. Property restricted to NRC uses and applicant's flooring showroom business only with incidental storage.
Consent Agenda - LUP-11 Auto Broker Renewal
Temporary land use permit renewal approved for 24 months for auto broker office at Shiloh Rd. and I-75 in Landlots 59 and 94, 20th District.
LUP-10 McEachern Memorial Methodist Church Car Care Ministry
Temporary land use permit approved for 24 months for light automotive repair ministry at Macklin Rd. west of Hopkins Rd. in Landlots 463-464, 499-500, 19th District. Church will operate car care ministry two days per week (Thursday and Saturday) providing free labor for vehicle repairs to community members in need.
Z16/SLUP-5 Sugar Bear Properties Self-Storage with Retail
Rezoning from NRC with stipulations to NRC approved for self-storage facility with ground-floor retail at Sandy Plains Rd. and Scuffle Grit Rd. in Landlot 776, 16th District. Three-story building with 85,877 sq ft storage and 8,462 sq ft retail/restaurant/office space on ground floor. Former Rite Aid drugstore site.
SLUP-3 Joe Dirt Development Organic Waste Grinding
Special land use permit approved for chipping, grinding, and reduction of organic green waste at 1284 Kenistone Circle in Landlots 930 and 943, 16th District. Landscape company has operated since 2008 but caused erosion and debris issues affecting neighboring properties.
Z1 Francisco J. Garcia Sanchez Continuance
Rezoning case continued to June 2, 2026 Planning Commission hearing at applicant's request.
SLUP-6 Wollaston Enterprises Tow Yard
Special land use permit for automobile storage yard and towing facility at New McEver Rd. and Huddleston Bridge Pkwy. in Landlot 66, 20th District held to June meeting. Staff recommended denial. Adjacent to approximately 3,000 homes in Huddleston Bridge, McEver Park, and Legacy Park subdivisions. Opposition cited incompatibility with residential character, traffic safety concerns near schools, and environmental impacts.
Z17 Jairo Murillo Residential Subdivision
Rezoning from R-20 and R-30 to R-15 for 15-lot residential subdivision on Old Canton Rd. and Clackam Rd. in Landlots 768 and 817, 16th District held to July 7, 2026 meeting. Significant floodplain and stream buffer challenges identified. Applicant directed to hire engineer, meet with stormwater staff, and develop revised plan addressing access issues to southern lot across Sewell Mill Creek floodplain.
Zoning Changes (4)
Northwest corner of Bells Ferry Rd. and Ernest Barrett Pkwy., 16th District
Racetrack Inc.
East side of Canton Rd. south of Kurtz Rd., Landlot 733, 16th District
Wadi Investments LLC
Southeast corner of Sandy Plains Rd. and Scuffle Grit Rd., Landlot 776, 16th District
Sugar Bear Properties LLC
West side of Old Canton Rd. and Clackam Rd., Landlots 768 and 817, 16th District
Jairo Murillo
Development Activity (5)
Racetrack Convenience Store
Proposed 16-pump gas station with convenience store. Building would include full deceleration lane on Bells Ferry and additional right-turn lane from Bells Ferry to Barrett Pkwy. Site to be lowered with retaining wall adjacent to KinderCare daycare.
McEachern Memorial Methodist Church Car Care Ministry
Multi-purpose facility with car care ministry operating two days per week. Building includes fixed firewall separation between car care bays and other church uses. 8-foot privacy fence to be installed along Hopkins Rd. property line.
Sugar Bear Self-Storage with Retail
Three-story building replacing former Rite Aid drugstore. 85,877 sq ft self-storage on basement and upper levels; 8,462 sq ft ground-floor retail with five tenant spaces for restaurants, offices, personal services. 59 parking spaces.
Wadi Investments Flooring Showroom
Flooring showroom with incidental storage. NRC zoning with restrictions on warehouse/wholesale trade as primary use.
Murillo Residential Subdivision
Proposed 15-lot single-family subdivision on approximately 12 acres. Seven lots over 20,000 sq ft, eight lots 15,000+ sq ft. Two lots designated as green space. Significant floodplain and stream buffer constraints. Access challenges to southern lot across Sewell Mill Creek.
Market Signals (5)
Housing Demand
Self-storage developer cited large residential development across the street and surrounding residential units as driving demand for storage facilities in the Sandy Plains Rd. area.
Commercial Demand
Neighborhood survey at Bells Ferry/Barrett Pkwy. intersection showed residents prefer restaurants, clinics, and offices over fuel sales and convenience stores for commercial development.
Sentiment
Strong community opposition to gas stations near schools, with concerns about benzene emissions, traffic safety, and property values driving organized resistance despite lack of county setback regulations.
Infrastructure
DOT noted Bells Ferry Rd. widening is needed based on traffic volume but has never been programmed due to difficulty of construction and political challenges of impacting adjacent homes.
Housing Demand
Church-owned property on Clackam Rd. held by family for 73 years is being sold for residential development, with owner noting everyone else in Cobb County has had chance to develop.