RaceTrac rezoning case in NE Cobb continued to November Archives

RaceTrac rezoning case in NE Cobb continued to November

On Friday the Cobb Zoning Division updated its agenda for Tuesday’s zoning hearing by the Cobb Board of Commissioners, with a major change to that schedule regarding a case in Northeast Cobb.

The revised agenda states that a rezoning request by RaceTrac Inc. for a 24/7 gas station and convenience store on the former site of the historic McAfee House has been continued by the staff to November.

No reason was given, and the only new document is an updated traffic report by Cobb DOT.

But the delay comes a week after a Cobb Planning Commission vote that recommened 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.

Opponents spoke out in force at the Planning Commission hearing for traffic, environmental and other reasons, even though zoning staff recommended approval (analysis here).

The two-acre tract at Bells Ferry Road and Ernest Barrett Parkway is owned by the Medford Family LP, and was proposed for a car wash in 2023 before applicant pulled out due to other business issues.

Although it’s surrounded by commercially-zoned land, it sits next to a child-care center, and is across the road from Bells Ferry Elementary School.

Planning Commission member Fred Beloin made the motion to restrict the kinds of commercial uses that could go on the site under the Neighborhood Retail Commercial (NRC) category.

“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,” Beloin said.

The land is where the McAfee House, used by a Union General during the Civil War, stood until it was relocated to Cherokee County earlier this year.

The RaceTrac request is scheduled to go before Cobb commissioners on Nov. 18.

Another case in the East Cobb area that has been delayed is set to be heard again on Tuesday. It’s a request by Annie Lou Crispell for a land-use permit to operate a dog- training and boarding business at her home off Terrell Mill Road that’s drawn opposition from neigbhors.

The Planning Commission voted to recommend denial in August, and Cobb commissioners heard the case in September before voting for a 30-day continuance.

The Cobb commissioners zoning hearing begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the county office building at 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta. You can view the full agenda by clicking here.

You also can watch the hearing on the county’s website and YouTube channels and on Cobb TV 23 on Comcast Cable.