Proposed Dacula Daycare, Retail Center Back on Planning Commission Agenda

The Gwinnett County Planning Commission will meet April 19 at 7 p.m. to consider several special use permit applications related to Dacula area properties.

Local cases on the Tuesday night agenda include:

• 2900 Block of Braselton Highway and 2300 Block of South Pucketts Mill Road

Applicant George Flannigan has requested his property located at the corner of Braselton Highway and South Pucketts Mill Road be rezoned from RA-200 (Agriculture-Residence District) to C-1 (Neighborhood Business District) in order to allow construction of a child daycare center. The wooded property is currently undeveloped.

If the rezoning is approved, the applicant plans to build an 18,000-square-foot building with 55 parking spaces and a fenced playground. Two entrances, one from Braselton Highway and one from South Pucketts Mill Road are proposed.

According to the planning department analysis, a daycare center may not be compatible with the adjoining Ashton Woods subdivision or the nearby Pucketts Manor subdivision.

The planning department recommends denial of the request since the proposed commercial zoning and use may be incompatible with the surrounding residential uses, inconsistent with the policies of the 2030 Unified Plan and could set a precedent for future C-1 zoning that may not be appropriate for the area.

The case was tabled at the Jan. 18 meeting of the planning commission.

• 4200 Block of Braselton Highway and the 2000 Block of Holman Road

Applicant George Flannigan has requested his 3.89-acre parcel at the intersection of Braselton Highway and Holman Road be rezoned from RA-200 (Agriculture Residence District) to C-2 (General Business District) to allow for the construction of a 17,385-square-foot commercial/retail building and an additional retail outparcel with a total of 85 parking spaces. The applicant’s letter of intent does not specify a particular retail establishment or use.

A nearby parcel located at the intersection of Braselton Highway and Mineral Springs Road has been developed as a convenience store. The planning department analysis notes the requested rezoning would be consistent with previous commercial zoning decisions in the area.

The planning department recommends approval of the request with conditions including:

1.     The type of retail development shall be restricted. Adult bookstores, auto body shops and tattoo parlors are among the prohibited uses.

2.     The applicant shall abide by all requirements of Section 1315 (Activity Center/Corridor Overlay District) including the requirement that stucco may only be used as an accent building material.

3.     Buildings on the property will be limited to one story in height and shall be constructed of brick or stacked stone.

4.     A 50-foot wide landscape buffer shall be installed adjacent to residentially zoned property along the eastern and southern property lines. The applicant shall also construct a six-foot high opaque fence if necessary for security and visual screening.

5.     Access to Holman Road shall be prohibited.

6.     No banner, streamers, hot air balloons or other similar materials will be displayed. Yard and/or bandit signs shall be prohibited.

7.     Peddlers or parking lot sales shall be prohibited.

8.     Any graffiti on the property shall be repainted or repaired within 72 hours.

The case was tabled at the Jan. 18 meeting of the planning commission.

UP NEXT

The planning commission is a recommending body only. The commission’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners for a final decision.