CUMMING — A rezoning request to bring a mega-grocery store to a commercial intersection southwest of Cumming likely will be postponed for the second month in a row because residents and developers have reportedly not reached enough of a compromise.
The Kroger Co. is expected to request the postponement at the Sept. 22 planning board public hearing, according to Jayne Iglesias, District 2 representative.
Greg Dolezal, whose District 3 encompasses the 27-acre corner of Castleberry and Bethelview roads that would be the site of the proposed Kroger, initiated the 4-0 vote last month to let involved parties continue working out details.
District 1’s Pam Bowman recused herself from any discussion and votes due to a self-reported conflict of interest.
The remaining points of concern seem to be the size and scope of the development, which would include 141,930 square feet of retail establishments and outparcels, and the number and location of parking spaces. The applicant requested 658 spaces, all of which would be in the front of the store.
A variance was sought to bring all of the parking to the front instead of just half, and the site plan indicates that rearranging spaces would require a reduction in building size.
The applicant agreed to ensure outparcels adhere to the area’s equestrian thematic overlay standards, which were created to honor the area’s history of horse farms.
However, the large size and scope and its failure to meet some of those standards is a main reason why planning and development staff has not supported it.
Though staff members did not give a specific reason for their recommendation, Vanessa Bernstein-Goldman, the county’s senior planner, said applicants should meet standards in the area they apply.
Two of the four corners of the intersection are developed. A Publix was built before the overlay was established, and a CVS adheres to the standards.
The application seeks to rezone the property on a third corner from its current industrial district, or M1, to commercial business district, or CBD.