Auburn shopping center moves forward

By Katie Stallcup

Published: August 14, 2008

The Auburn Planning commission approved a rezoning and conditional use at Thursday’s meeting, allowing a shopping center to move forward in the planning process.

Hamilton Place, which will include a grocery store and two retail stores, is planned for the corner of Hamilton Road and Moores Mill Road.

Two residents stepped up at the meeting, expressing concern about the back of the grocery store’s appearance and the potential problems delivery tractor-trailer trucks might cause to nearby neighborhoods.

Developers still have to get approval for specific site plans.

—RV park

The commission also gave the go-ahead for an RV park to locate at 582 Webster Road. The applicant said the park, intended for game day visitors, would be paved, rather than gravel, and the lots would be sold rather than rented.

Issues with permeability of the building materials, or how well rainwater could flow through, came up. Planning Director Forrest Cotten pointed out that the developers planned to preserve as many of the old trees at the location as possible.

The city council still has to approve or reject that use for that location, and the commission still must approve specific site plans.

—Drive-through rehearing

The commission agreed to grant a rehearing for a drive-through restaurant to locate on East Glenn Avenue in the Bruno’s parking lot.

At a previous meeting, the commission recommended the city council approve the restaurant. However, because of concerns about location and plan details, the city council rejected the request.

Because the commission granted a rehearing Thursday, the plans will go through the process again.

—Attendance
In attendance: John Cope, Kimberlee Harrison, Warren McCord, Emily Sparrow, Josie Walsh, Jerry C. Williams and Mark Yohn.
Absent: Cheryl Cobb and Brenda Rawls.

Thursday’s was to be Cobb’s last meeting, as the city council recently appointed Charles Smith to take her position on the commission. Sparrow said Cobb was away on personal business. She said she appreciated Cobb’s dedication and commitment.