June 12, 2008
www.northfulton.com
JOHNS CREEK – A Sonic Drive-In restaurant may be one step closer to serving hamburgers and fries along Holcomb Bridge Road in the western part of Johns Creek.
The Johns Creek Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the rezoning application, which is a request for C-1 Conditional zoning and a concurrent variance to allow for an additional sign. A final approval is required from the City Council.
The 1,557 square-foot proposed structure would include a covered patio, drive-through service and 17 drive-in stalls – all in between a tire store and bank. The request is to rezone a total more than 10 acres of the shopping center and the Sonic restaurant itself will sit on .74 acres.
Mike Lackey, Johns Creek Committee Association [JCCA] zoning committee chair, said the JCCA zoning committee recommended denying the project and the additional sign – due to lack of space in the shopping center.
"There's not enough room on that piece of land to sustain this fast food restaurant," said Lea Taylor, JCCA zoning committee liaison. "We'd love to have [Sonic] in Johns Creek, but it's not the right site."
Taylor said the property is limited to four outparcels, but there are currently six outparcels if a drive-up ATM and drive-through coffee shop are included. "It just seems it would be very crowded," said Taylor.
Johns Creek zoning and planning administrator Justin Kirouac said the two outparcels pre-date the city and are permitted with Fulton County.
Ross Merkling, a Sonic representative, said the fast food restaurant has worked closely with city staff to comply with ordinance regulations.
"We believe this will be a good use for this area," said Merkling.
Kirouac said the parking space requirement is well above the minimum needed and if there is a net reduction in space, Sonic would still meet the requirement. After development, the entire shopping center would hold 256 parking spaces.
"I think there is more than adequate parking," said Commissioner Tim Jennette.
City staff also recommended approval of the zoning request and asked that the additional sign on Holcomb Bridge Road be no larger than 20 square feet in an effort to maintain similar standards in the Rivermont Georgia Marketplace shopping center.
Sonic representatives' request of a 32 square-foot sign would keep in line with its business model. But they also told the commission that as much as they would like the 32 square-foot sign, they would be willing to meet the request for a 20 square-foot sign somewhere in the middle.
"We'd like our sign to be identified, especially with all of the mature trees in the area," said Merkling. "A monument sign would help identify our store."
The Planning Commission modified a few of city staff's recommended conditions in its approval of the application, including:
- limiting the height of all buildings on the site to be no more than one story.
- requiring installation of "odor scrubbers," which help reduce aromas from restaurants.
- Prohibiting alcohol sales on the specific outparcel.
- Various aesthetic and landscaping requirements.
The application will go before the mayor and City Council at a future meeting where a final decision will be rendered.
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