A proposed Ace Hardware store on Dawsonville Highway has cleared a hurdle, but not without some changes to the developer's original plan.
Hampton Wakefield Ventures, LLC, wants to build the 12,000 square-foot store on the site of an abandoned motel on the west side of Dawsonville Highway at the intersection of Venture Drive. The developer went before the Hall County Planning Commission Monday to ask for permission to construct outdoor storage on the site and to ask for a variance from some standards required under the Gateway Corridor Overlay District.
What the planning board and the developer heard was an outcry from neighbors on Venture Drive, who were concerned about the traffic impact the store might have on their neighborhood.
"We have a hard enough time getting out [onto Dawsonville Highway]. I can't imagine now if we've got to try accessing and regressing out of there onto only 100 feet between their drive and the highway. It's going to be a traffic nightmare," said Rich Zane.
His concern was echoed by others, who also complained that allowing a truck entrance from Venture Drive into the store property would be a safety issue for the neighborhood. Even though the developer's project manager Ed Myers assured them there would be minimal deliveries by tractor trailers, neighbors weren't convinced.
Neighbor Steve Harmon told the planning board he had spoken with the county traffic engineer about commercial access from Venture Drive.
"He said if there is none [other commercial access], then he would recommend not allowing it - that's a very key point," Harmon said.
Hall County Planning Commission Chairman Don Smallwood explained to opponents that the planning board had no authority to control traffic on Dawsonville Highway. The board did, however, side with neighbors and added a condition to prevent an entrance to the store property from Venture Drive.
The amended request now goes to the Hall County Commission for review on September 13.
