BOC Approves Hamilton Mill Pawn Shop Permit

Despite the concerns of nearby property owners, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved a .

USA Money Services purchased a gold buying business at 2590 Hamilton Mill Road, suite 107, with the intent of converting the 1,658-square-foot store to a pawn shop.

According to applicant Mitch Peevy, the business owners intend to focus on jewelry and electronics, not on the items and equipment that might be seen in larger pawn shops.

Peevy, who lives in the area, said he was not concerned about the pawn shop opening near his home.

“I don’t see it as being a negative to the area,” he said.

According to Peevy, there will be safeguards in place to prevent the store from becoming a magnet for criminals.

“It’s not a simple process to go in there,” Peevy said. Those who pawn must present identification, be photographed and that information is routinely sent to police, he added.

Those assurances provided little comfort to Tim Sullivan of Buford. In addressing the commissioners, Sullivan said he had polled various neighborhood organizations along Hamilton Mill Road.

“The overwhelming response was that ‘No, we don’t want a pawn shop’,” he said.

“It’s a slippery slope. It’s not appropriate for the area.”

Ray Rodden of Buford also questioned whether allowing a pawn shop in the Hamilton Mill area might have undesirable consequences in the long term.

“I haven’t seen where a pawn shop has actually been an asset in any neighborhood I’ve lived in,” he said.

Rodden pointed out the permit may set a precedent for allowing other nearby gold buying businesses to convert to pawn shops.

“I’ve seen what goes on. I lived off Singleton Road. I don’t want a repeat of that,” he said.

Rodden requested commissioners include restrictions to prohibit trade in firearms or other weapons and also a sunset provision that would allow the county to revoke the permit if the applicant fails to meet the conditions set forth in the permit.

District 4 Commissioner John Heard, in whose district the pawn shop will be located, agreed.

In his motion to approve the permit, Heard stipulated the operating hours should be revised to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The original application indicated the business would operate between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

In addition, Heard specified the pawn shop will be limited only to electronics and jewelry and be limited in size to the current suite location. Heard also added a sunset provision which calls for the business to be inspected at 12 and 24 months after the permit issuance to ensure the shop is in compliance with the listed terms. If the business is found to be in violation, the special use permit is subject to revocation.

The motion passed 3-2 with District 2 Commissioner Lynette Howard and District 3 Commissioner Mike Beaudreau voting in opposition.

“We’ve seen this record get played before,” Beaudreau said.

“I feel very strongly this is not an appropriate designation for this.”