6590 Sugarloaf Investments LLC submitted plans for the redevelopment of an existing Gwinnett County building to include a convenience store and a restaurant, in addition to four retail tenant stations. This request is a change in conditions from this rezoning approval, limiting the types of uses on this property to restaurants, financial institutions, and offices. The subject site is located in the Civic Center Overlay District and is a 1.63-acre developed parcel located at 6590 Sugarloaf Parkway .
Planning Commission held a public hearing in February but tabled action until March 1, 2022. The County Commissioners have a published public hearing date of February 22, 2022, but will likely not take action on the request until a recommendation by the Planning Commission is submitted. County Planners are recommending the denial of the request.
According to application documents, the vacant, existing structure is 15,157 square feet and is proposed to be reconfigured to serve six tenants and a fuel canopy facing Sugarloaf Parkway with five fuel pumps. In addition, elevations indicate the façade will be reconfigured to serve multiple tenants with various materials, including brick, glass, and EIFS. According to the drawings, fifty-two existing parking spaces will be located primarily along the Meadow Church Road and Sugarloaf Parkway Road frontages. Access is provided by existing driveways from Meadow Church Road and Sugarloaf Parkway. The Meadow Church Road entrance is a full-service driveway. The Sugarloaf Parkway entrance is a right in-right out only driveway.
According to County Planners, the existing use and usability of adjacent or nearby properties would likely be negatively impacted by the proposed change-in-conditions. The addition of a convenience store with fuel pumps on the subject property would be inappropriate within the context of the Overlay District. Additionally, the current configuration of access points from Meadow Church Road and Sugarloaf Parkway could be insufficient to safely handle the volume of traffic associated with a convenience store with fuel pumps. Therefore, lower intensity retail would be appropriate on the subject property. Additionally, the 2040 Unified Plan Future Development Map indicates that the subject property lies within the Regional Activity Center Character Area. The Regional Activity Center designation is intended for intense commercial and office/employment activity areas. A convenience store with fuel pumps would not be inappropriate in this area as it is a single-story, automobile-oriented use.
