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Planning commission defers shopping center rezoning
By Cathy Cobbs
The Dunwoody Planning Commission
at its Oct. 8 meeting deferred a decision
on rezoning a controversial shopping
center after citizens expressed concerns
about the number of available uses in the
new category.
Owner Branch Properties wants to
change the Mount Vernon Shopping
Center’s zoning designation from
Neighborhood Shopping to C-l to allow
for a greater diversity of uses. Located at
the corner of Jett Ferry and Mt. Vernon
Road, the shopping center’s current
tenants include a CVS Pharmacy, a
consignment store, and several personal
care salons.
The specific focus of the rezoning effort
is an empty 35,000-square-foot space that
has seen a revolving door of failed grocery
store tenants over the years.
Laurel David of the Galloway Law
Group, representing the owners, said
Branch has received the most interest from
“eater-tainment” establishments, ones that
combine a sporting element like pickleball
with food and drink options.
The developers likened the concept to
The Painted Pickle near the Beltline which
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offers a variety of indoor and outdoor
games along with a full bar and restaurant.
Shopping does not allow for an
entertainment venue, while the C-1
designation does.
The planning commission heard from
four speakers living near the property
who expressed cautious support for the
rezoning effort, and at least eight who
said they were concerned with the broader
scope of uses that the C-l zoning could
bring to the center.
The C-l designation has a variety
of uses, but Branch representatives said
they have eliminated at least a dozen of
possibilities that would have been allowed
with that zoning, including a homeless
shelter, transitional housing, recording
studio, lodging, funeral home, car wash,
gas station and a taxi stand.
Several speakers in opposition said
they were not provided details on the
rezoning plan, which has been posted
on Dunwoody’s Planning Commission
website for days.
Others said they wanted more details
on the specific hours of operation if a
pickleball venue moved in, whether or not
the new tenants would be seeking a liquor
license, and if the center’s existing parking
would be ample enough to handle the
demand.
FFowever, David said since a specific
tenant has not been located, those details
are not available. FFowever, she did
indicate that a venue of this type would
probably apply for a liquor license.
Branch President Jesse Shannon said
the company has garnered interest from “a
half-dozen” pickleball companies interested
in the space, but formal negotiations
can’t move forward until the property is
rezoned.
Several speakers expressed concerns
about the potential for noise in the
surrounding neighborhoods, saying that
they prefer having a venue that closes
down at sunset or 9 p.m. at the latest.
After hearing from residents and
discussions among members, the board
voted unanimously to defer the rezoning
request to its Nov. 19 meeting. It also
asked that Branch meet with city staff to
discuss further narrowing the number of
acceptable uses for the center.
Dunwoody Planning and Zoning
Manager Paul Leonhardt clarified to the
commission that the rezoning applies
to the whole center, not just the vacant
space, and cautioned that a large number
of restrictions may hamper efforts to find
viable tenants.
A July 31 community meeting about
rezoning the property turned into a series
of accusations between residents and
tenants in the center and its owner.
Telesca said the possibility of putting
in yet another grocery store has been shut
down by all of the companies they have
approached, a sentiment echoed at the
Oct. 8 meeting by Branch President Jessie
Shannon.
“There have been three grocery stores
in the shopping center and all of them
failed,” Shannon said. “What used to work
in neighborhood shopping centers in the
past don’t work today.”
If the measure passes the board in
November, it would likely come before the
Dunwoody City Council meeting at its
Dec. 9.
12 | NOVEMBER 2024
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