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On July 8, 2024, these requests were made before the Planning Commissioners.
One entity spoke in opposition, aside from the developer, no one spoke in favor.
The opposition focused on 3 risks 1): Wrong Location: given that the Vehicle, Truck and Heavy Equipment storage yard is across the river from the large future County Park at the River Bend property; Across the river from a new Lake Lucerne Pocket Park; Adjacent to the Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary; Just upstream from the Vecoma County Park Property; and across the river from Section-1 of the future Yellow River Walking Trail.
2): Risks: the storage yard is a large portion of the 29 acre site, 215 semi-truck & trailer storage spaces; with an expected traffic of 52 semi-trucks daily leaving/entering the property and entering/leaving Hwy-78.; the site is permeable gravel, any fluids (fuel, oils, radiator fluid, battery fluids, hydrologic fluids, along with leakage of any stored chemicals) will go directly into the soil and the river. The Developer also mentioned the site would be open all night and they anticipate Truck drivers using it at all hours and sleeping in their trucks; even though the site has no restrooms facilities or trash facilities. 3): Inconsistent and hostile with important planned Community improvements. Mostly regarding healthy outdoor amenities like the 3 parks, the Walking Trail and the Paddle Trail. These Amenities are important to the revitalization of Mountain Park and Centerville.
Planning Commissioners voted 7 to 1 to Deny this development.
On July 23, 2024, these requests went before the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners.
The same arguments presented before the Planning Commissioners were made.
The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to Approve the Development.
This approval went against the Planning Staff's recommendation to Deny, the Planning Commissioners 7 to 1 vote to Deny, and the clear majority of a large MPCA Community Survey saying this type of development is not wanted in Mountain Park due to the inappropriateness of the area and the future recreational and social potential of this corridor between the future park sites at Vecoma and River Bend properties, the Lake Lucerne pocket park, the coming Yellow River Greenway Walking trail, and it being next door to the YR Wildlife Sanctuary.
Survey results below.
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