The White County Board of Commissioners denied a rezoning request sought for a proposed convenience store at the intersection of Ga. 255 and Ga. 115 East, citing traffic safety concerns.
The application by Hetrip Unit LLC, on behalf of Kirt Koch, requested a change for 2.03 acres at the northeast corner of the intersection from an A-1 agriculture/forestry district to C-2 highway business district. The stated purpose was to build a 6,720-square-foot store along with gas pumps.
Commissioner Lyn Holcomb, attending the Feb. 28 meeting via conference call, was among those sharing concerns about traffic flow at the site and its proximity to the intersection of two state highways.
“The gas station’s going to bring a lot of traffic out there and increase the chance of more accidents out there,” Holcomb said prior to the unanimous vote. “I just don’t think that intersection has the capability of handling the traffic that will be coming through there.”
County Chairman Travis Turner also noted the development would be below the grade of Ga. 115 and could pose visibility challenges for drivers entering and exiting the property since some motorists travel at high speeds there. Commissioner Craig Bryant added that he had also heard objections from residents.
In voting to deny, Turner said commissioners were citing concern about accessibility from both state highways and the impact of traffic and the community.
The White County Planning Commission had recommended approval following its review, though county Community and Economic Development Director John Sell noted three people spoke in opposition at the public hearing and another objected via email.
Sell explained prior to the vote that the redistricting request was only the first step to allow construction. He said, had the request been approved, the project would still have had to pass review through a multi-agency planning review committee process.