GAINESVILLE — The Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board has voted to allow two business ventures for the city to move forward - one, a Dunkin' Donuts restaurant on Thompson Bridge Road and the other, a Murphy Express gas station on Shallowford Road.
Representatives for both projects appeared before the board Tuesday night.
Dunkin' Donuts to occupy old Yonah Burger site
Gipco Southern, Inc. asked for and received approval for a drive-through restaurant at 1191 Thompson Bridge Road, the site of the old Yonah Burger restaurant. In 2010, the owners of Yonah Burger had received special use permission to operate a drive-through at the site. One of the conditions of the special use is that any new restaurant with a drive-through must have its own hearing.
Jay Gipson with Gipco said his company plans a complete renovation of the current building. He told board members the exterior colors of the restaurant would be more subtle than the bright orange and white that some Dunkin' Donuts sites are known for.
The restaurant site backs up to Green Street Circle, an established residential neighborhood, and one resident spoke in opposition to the restaurant. Kathy Stroberg told the planning board that she is concerned about traffic that will likely jam a stretch of Green Street Circle from the proposed Dunkin' Donuts site to Green Street Circle, especially during the morning hours. She noted two other businesses that are adjacent to the Dunkin's Donuts site that also contribute to traffic.
She also said the hours of operation for the restaurant are an issue for her.
"We don't like the lateness of the hour that Dunkin' Donuts will be open," said Stroberg. "Ten o'clock is kind of late. We are a neighborhood of young children and teenagers."
The Planning and Appeals Board voted unanimously to approve the special use, however; the proposal goes before Gainesville City Council on November 3.
Arkansas company will build gas station on Shallowford Road across from Walmart
Murphy Oil USA, Inc. of El Dorado, Arkansas received approval for setback requirements for a site on Shallowford Road at Hillcrest Road for a gas station.
Spokesman Greg Sistrunk said the company will build a 12-pump fuel station at the site right across the road from the Gainesville Walmart store.
Sistrunk said the Murphy Express should be up and running by late summer 2016.
While the company has about 1,300 fuel stations across the country, it is just getting a start in Georgia, according to Sistrunk. He said Murphy Oil will open a station soon in Buford near the Mall of Georgia. He said there are other stations in Blue Ridge and Blairsville in north Georgia.
