September 2025 Newsletter

NEWS FLASH

Five Forks Trickum Rd is getting an Overlay!

Our area is finally getting an Overlay!

The Five Forks corridor including the three shopping nodes at Rockbridge Road, Killian Hill Road, and Oak Road are now under review by Gwinnett County for a Commercial Overlay. What does this mean? It is an added set of zoning rules created to preserve the character of this area. Local residents can decide, do we want more gas stations and fast-food drive thrus? Or do we want to encourage more pedestrian developments, architecture, and streetscape character? The current proposal would extend and include all of Five Forks Trickum Road from the Kroger shopping node at Rockbridge Road to the Publix node at Killian Hill Road to the Kroger shopping node at Oak Rd, and will only affect the non-residential, or commercial areas along the following roads:


Five Forks Trickum Road

Killian Hill Road

Rockbridge Road

Old Tucker Road

River Drive

Dogwood Road

Oak Road

Tom Smith Road

Bowers Road 

Want to see information listed in the agenda package? (Please note this document was up for public hearing in September and was tabled, and it may be altered for the October public hearings if it is on the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners agendas in October). Click link below:

Five Forks Trickum Overlay Agenda Package | Mountain Park GA

Want to provide feedback on what is included in the Five Forks Trickum Overlay? This feedback will be shared with Gwinnett County Planning and Development!

Answer a few quick questions on what you would like to see along Five Forks Trickum Rd

MPCA's Business Sponsorship Program

Calling all businesses in and near the Mountain Park community!

 Support Your Community – Become an MPCA Business Sponsor Today!  

Our newsletter subscribers have asked for more information regarding local restaurants and businesses in the area. In response, MPCA has come up with a new business sponsorship program! Share your business with BOTH our active newsletter subscribers AND our active Facebook group! Details below:

The Mountain Park Community Association (MPCA) is excited to announce the launch of its Business Sponsorship Program, a unique opportunity for local businesses, organizations, and community partners to make a lasting impact while gaining valuable exposure. 

Why Partner With MPCA? 

MPCA exists to connect our residents, strengthen neighborhood bonds, and enhance the quality of life in the Mountain Park/Lilburn area. Sponsorship dollars directly support our Operating Budget, covering vital community initiatives such as: 

• Maintaining our website and communication platforms 
• Hosting community meetings and events 
• Providing resources for volunteer opportunities including clean-ups, and neighborhood projects 
• Marketing efforts to keep residents informed and engaged 
• Tools, equipment, and supplies for public events and outreach 

When your Business sponsors the MPCA, you’re investing directly in your community — while showcasing your brand to hundreds of engaged residents and business owners. 

Sponsorship Levels & Benefits detailed below:

Gold Tier 

Annual cost $100/year

Benefits - Prominent logo placement on MPCA’s website (Gold Sponsor section) linked to your site. Featured in monthly newsletter & announcements (600+ subscribers) Up to 2 Facebook ads/month to 2,200+ group members and a Community “Proud Sponsor” window decal 

Silver Tier 

Annual cost $50/year 

Benefits - Logo placement on MPCA’s website (Silver Sponsor section) linked to your site. Featured in monthly newsletter & announcements (600+ subscribers). 1 Facebook ad/month to 2,200+ group members and a Community “Proud Sponsor” window decal 

Business Sponsorships run for one year from the date your benefits begin, and MPCA is committed to implementing your benefits within 30 days of joining. 

More Than Just Advertising 

Becoming a Business sponsor means more than a logo — it’s a declaration that you care about the people, businesses, and future of our community. Your support helps MPCA stay active, visible, and effective in protecting and enhancing the charm of Mountain Park. 

How to Join 

Getting started is easy: 

1. Decide on your sponsorship tier (Gold or Silver). 
2. Contact MPCA to express your interest using our Contact Us form
3. Please choose "My business wants to sponsor MPCA" option
4. A MPCA Board member will reach out to you with details!
5. Once the sponsorship is completed watch your sponsorship benefits go live — and your connection to the community grow! 

Ready to make a difference?  

Join the MPCA Business Sponsorship Program today and let’s make Mountain Park stronger, greener, and more connected — together. 

For details or questions, contact the MPCA at mtnparkca@gmail.com or visit MPCA.life and fill out the Contact Us form!

Recent Land Use, Building, and Development items in the Mountain Park area

(INCLUDING requests for Zoning, Re-Zoning, Variance, Waiver, Special Use Permit)

Special Use Permit and Variance Requests for a Dentist Office and Auto Repair Shop on Hwy 78

Overview

• The hearing concerned a special use permit and variances for a proposed vehicle repair/service establishment and a dental office at 4934 Stone Mountain Highway, District 2.
• Applicant: Asfa Embe, represented by Genuine Mapping and Design.
• Site Details: 1.65 acres, C-2 zoning, proposal includes a 5,200 sq. ft. building with nine bays and 26 parking spaces.

Key Points

• The site is planned for two uses: a new dental office (second practice for Dr. Ambay) and an automotive shop (prospective tenant: Christian Brothers Automotive).
• The dental office is a permitted use; the automotive shop required a special use permit and variances.
• Requested Variances: Parking locations, inter-parcel access, and zoning buffer.
• Staff Recommendation: Approve the special use permit and parking location variance; deny the others.
• Planning Commission Recommendation: Approve the special use permit, parking location, and zoning buffer variances; deny inter-parcel access variance.

Discussion Highlights

• The property’s orientation and topography influenced building placement and parking.
• The driveway location was moved for safety, per GDOT (Georgia Department of Transportation) recommendations.
• Inter-parcel access was denied due to grade changes and lack of support from neighboring businesses.
• The site had prior uses (marble/grave stone business) and was cleared before current ownership.
• Buffer concerns addressed with plans for berms and rows of evergreen trees to provide visual and acoustic screening.

Community & Staff Input

• No opposition was present at the hearing.
• Questions focused on site plan updates and driveway placement.
• Incidents involving dirt dumping and vegetation removal were clarified as unrelated to illegal activity by the owner.

Final Motion & Conditions

• The Board approved the special use permit with Planning Commission’s recommended conditions and two additional conditions:

1. Maximum 5-foot-tall berm outside the 25-foot landscaped buffer, subject to Planning Department review.
2. Special use valid for three years, after which renewal is required.

• The motion passed unanimously.

Glenn Club Dr Apartment Development

The Glenn Club Dr apartment development rezoning application was presented again in September . The summary of that hearing is below.

Case Overview

The applicant, ECG Acquisitions, LLC, requested to rezone two parcels at 1935 and 1975 Glen Club Drive from C2 (General Commercial) to HRR (High-Rise Residential). The proposal envisions:

• 182 apartment units on 4.29 acres (42.42 units/acre)
• All units restricted to households earning up to 60% of the area median income
• Site surrounded by multifamily, institutional, and commercial uses
• Future Land Use Plan designation: Urban High

In addition to rezoning, variances and a waiver were requested for inter-parcel access, pedestrian circulation, EV charging stations, and reduced parking-lot tree planting areas.

Staff Presentation

Planning staff recommended:

• Approval of the rezoning to HRR with conditions
• Approval of the waiver to reduce the minimum planting area for parking-lot trees
• Approval of the variance to modify pedestrian circulation requirements
• Denial of variances to omit inter-parcel access and EV charging stations

Staff noted alignment with the Unified Plan’s vision for vibrant, mixed-use urban centers.

Applicant Presentation

On remand from the Board of Commissioners, the applicant:

• Limited variances to only pedestrian-circulation standards (four-foot sidewalks with two-foot grass strips)
• Agreed to provide inter-parcel access, full EV charging per code, and standard tree-planting areas
• Proposed a modification to Condition 8 to allow administrative reduction of parking spaces if inter-parcel connections or parking-lot design adjustments reduce parking below the minimum

No opposition appeared at the hearing.

Commission Action

Commissioners Crotser and Farver made and seconded a motion to:

1. Approve rezoning to HRR with all staff-recommended conditions, including the revised Condition 8: “An administrative reduction in parking spaces may be granted at which time inter-parcel access and/or parking-lot design standards result in a reduction in spaces below the required minimum.”
2. Approve the variance for pedestrian circulation (sidewalks and grass strips)
3. Deny variances for reduced tree-planting areas, inter-parcel access relief, and omitting EV charging stations

The motion passed unanimously, 8–0.

This development will be up for public hearing in September.

Board of Commissioners Public Hearing

When: Sept. 23rd, 2025 at 7:00 pm



Where: 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 Have feedback to share with the county but can't attend the Public Hearing? Please email the Gwinnett County Commissioners to share your opinion!



Update on the Wash Lee Ct Gas Station

MPCA spoke with a neighbor living by the Washlee Ct gas station and received the following update:

Chairwoman Hendrickson listened to our concerns/petitions and was able to set up a meeting with the owner.  We appreciate Chairwoman Hendrickson and the community efforts.  We understand the owner did not need to meet with us; however we hope they understand our commitment and our feelings considering the establishment will be so close to residential homes.  

We will continue conversations and wait on decisions from the owner.

We requested the below concessions. 

1. Not a 24 hour store

2. Flock camera (license plate reader that Gwinnett County police can access) installed on Wash Lee Court

3. 8 foot privacy fence across back of store

4. Two staggered rows of evergreen trees (arborvitae or cryptomeria) along back property line

5. Right turn only exit from Wash Lee Court



Upcoming Events!

Lilburn Daze

Promote your event with MPCA!

Have an event you would like highlighted in our newsletter? We would love to include it in our upcoming events sections! You can provide information on your event by filling out the questionnaire at the following link:

Event Promotion Request

Interested in other events in Gwinnett or Lilburn? Check out the calendars below for activities for the whole family:

 General - Gwinnett | Gwinnett County

Calendar • Lilburn, GA • CivicEngage (cityoflilburn.com)

Special THANK YOU to our Gold tier business sponsors below!

Marvelous Moosey has blue hooves to remind us it's OK to look different. Our differences are what make each of us unique and marvelous. 

We created Moosey and wrote a book, Marvelous Moosey's Adventures Begin, and he comes packaged in his Moosecase, a box that looks like an old suitcase with interactive games inside. 

5012 Cross Ct. SW, Lilburn, GA 30047

 Email:   info@marvelousmoosey.com

​

https://www.marvelousmoosey.com

The Assurance Group offers a wide array of insurance products, including auto, home, business, and collector vehicles insurance. Our agents will customize a product specifically for you or your business. We specialize in creating innovative solutions to your coverage needs, whether they be Personal or Commercial. Whether we are answering questions about a customer’s homeowner’s policy or working out a claim with a commercial client, our service and knowledge will always be the best around.

912 Killian Hill Road, Suite 202K, Lilburn, GA 30047

Telephone:   (770) 921-1231

 Email:   jprice@taglilburn.com

​

https://www.taglilburn.com/

Country Inn and Suites has been a gracious and generous host to many of the meetings held by MPCA in their conference room. These meetings have facilitated the operations of our organization, hold elections, and even provided a location to meet with officials on important issues to the community. In addition, it has provided valuable resources to spread the work of what we do! Thank you to Country Inn and Suites for your generous contributions!

1852 Rockbridge Rd. SW, Stone Mountain, GA 30087

Telephone 770-465-6515

cx_stmt@countryinnamericas.com

https://www.choicehotels.com/georgia/stone-mountain/country-inn-suites-hotels/gad47

Special THANK YOU to our Silver tier business sponsors below!

Interested in becoming a gold or silver tier business sponsor and being featured in our newsletter?



Go to our Contact Us page on our website and choose option "I am interested in supporting your mission as a local business!". One of our directors will reach out to you with details!

Want to get involved in your community?

Join MPCA - Make your community a better place to live. Check out our committees that need volunteers at the link below: Volunteer positions | Mountain Park GA

OR



Let us know you would like to be included on our volunteer opportunities list, and we will contact you when an opportunity arises!

If interested, please fill out this form for more information!

Too busy to volunteer but still want to contribute?

We are now set up to take donations using Zelle! This method allows 100% of your donation to go to MPCA-led community projects and the overall operational costs, including this newsletter, the website, and survey platforms, and informational and promotional items that we use to gain your feedback and keep you informed! We are a 100% volunteer organization. You can use our office email address MPCALife@outlook.com. Have questions? Feel free to reach out to us through our website! (Linked below)

Or you can donate via PayPal by checking out our Donation page on our website!

Note: Donations are NOT tax deductible. 

MPCA is a 501c4. Anyone who makes a donation is welcome to ask for a financial summary of expenses. Just send us an email!

www.MPCA.Life - MPCA is a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization that advocates for residents and businesses in the Mountain Park Community

RATE US!