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-1 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 offers a variety of indoor and outdoor games along with a full bar and restaurant.
Neighborhood 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-1 zoning could bring to the center.
The C-1 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 C-1 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.
However, David said since a specific tenant has not been located, those details are not available. However, she did indicate that a venue of this type would probably apply for a liquor license.
Several speakers expressed concerns about the noise factor, 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 amongst members, the board voted unanimously to defer the rezoning request to its Nov. 19 meeting. The board 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.
If the measure passes the board, it would likely come before the Dunwoody City Council meeting at its Dec. 9 meeting.
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.
“We have to adapt to the reality of today,” Shannon said.
