RaceTrac withdraws NE Cobb rezoning; 7 Brews Coffee delayed

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RaceTrac rezoning case in NE Cobb continued to November
RaceTrac wanted to build on the former site of the McAfee House, but residents, the Cobb County School District and others fought the proposal.

A proposal for a RaceTrac gas station on an historic site on Bells Ferry Road was withdrawn without prejudice Tuesday morning.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve RaceTrac’s request to withdraw the request without prejudice, meaning it can reapply at any time.

The request was a last-minute action and thus required commissioners’ approval.

RaceTrac proposed a 24/7 gas station and convenience store (filing and analysis here) at the northwest intersection of Bells Ferry Road and Barrett Parkway (2595 Bells Ferry Road), on land where the McAfee House once stood.

It was a home built in the 1840s and was used by a Union general during the Civil War. The home was relocated to Cherokee County earlier this year by Cobb Landmarks, an historic preservation non-profit.

There wasn’t any discussion before the vote at a zoning hearing on Tuesday, and a reason for the withdrawal was not given.

But the withdrawal comes a month after the Cobb Planning Commission essentially scuttled any plans for what RaceTrac had in mind, recommending denial of any gas station use, along with uses that involve alcohol, vaping and tobacco sales, other automotive uses or any type of drive-through business.

That was due to vocal community opposition, and 25 people turned out Tuesday who were against the plans.

The Cobb Zoning Division continued the request to November for a traffic study update (revised Oct. 15).

Opposition came from nearby residents, the Bells Ferry Civic Association, the Cobb County School District (the land is across from Bells Ferry Elementary School) and others for traffic, educational and environmental reasons.

The property also is next to a child care center. The applicant conceded that traffic in a congested area would increase.

In an October Planning Commission meeting, RaceTrac attorney Kevin Moore was asked if his client was looking at other locations.

“I’m not aware of any other options that they have in particular,” Moore said. “I am aware of this option which they consider ideal.” He added that it was “not inherently evil” for a gas station and convenience store to be located there.

At the same meeting, Planning Commission member Fred Beloin said that “this would be the opposite of an old Beatles song where you take a sad song and make it better. This would be take a bad road and make it far, far worse.”

In 2023, a car wash was proposed for the land, owned by the Medford Family LP, and the Cobb Planning Commission recommended approval. But the request was withdrawn by the applicant due to what it said were other business obligations.

Also on Tuesday, Cobb commissioners voted to continue a request for a drive-through coffee business in Northeast Cobb.

BRKI, LLC wants to convert part of a former health clinic on Sandy Plains Road at Gordy Parkway for a 7 Brews Coffee.

That request will be delayed to the December zoning hearing.

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