City commission approves special exception variance for group bringing in ALDI grocery store

At Monday’s regular city commission meeting, commissioners agreed to grant a special exception variance with an 80 percent maximum impervious surface coverage to the Foresite Group of Peachtree Corners in order to develop the ALDI grocery store along with three other as-yet unnamed national retailers. The site of the development is the north side of the intersection of Bowens Mill Road and South Gaskin Avenue. 

The Unified Land Development Code states that the coverage amount won’t exceed 50 percent. Commissioners approved the request “to encourage future development.” Representatives from the Foresite Group were at the commission meeting and were ready to answer any questions commissioners might have. No one, however, asked the representatives for comment or any input. The item passed unanimously and without discussion.

The commission also voted to allow Mayor Tony Paulk to execute documents related to the sewer extension in the area of George Drive and Thompson Drive. The extensions are necessary to serve new developments in the area. KW Underground submitted the low bid of $247,911.

There were several other items on the agenda as well. Commissioners approved each of them: The engineering and construction management contract to Lancore Engineering for $202,146 for the McNeal Drive widening and resurfacing project; the second amendment to the Solar Power Purchase contract; changes to the business license ordinance amendment; and the commission named Commissioner Steve Bailey as the alternate voting delegate for the MEAG annual meeting. 

The meeting lasted 11 minutes. All commissioners were present except one.