Putnam County approves rezoning for 301 New Phoenix Road with conditions
March 01, 2026 | Putnam County, Georgia
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The Putnam County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 18 approved rezoning 3.0 acres at 301 New Phoenix Road from AG to C-1 for Imperial Park Holdings LLC, imposing conditions intended to limit environmental and community impacts.
Chairman Bill Sharp presided over the Zoning Public Hearing I where Rick McAllister, agent for the landowner, and two supporters spoke in favor and one resident spoke in opposition. Planning and Development staff recommended approval with conditions including that the property be used only as stated in the application, that right- and left-turn lanes be installed per state and local guidelines, and that an accurate plat be resurveyed and recorded in the Superior Court of Putnam County within 120 days of approval.
Commissioners added additional conditions requiring warm-colored, downward-directed outdoor lighting to limit light pollution; a vegetative buffer where the site adjoins residential properties; exterior landscaping such as sod and shrubbery; screening for dumpsters; a requirement that security cameras cover key locations (including each gas pump, store entrances and points of sale) with recordings stored for a minimum of 30 days and viewable with accurate date/time stamps; a maximum exterior sign height of 60 inches; no public shower or laundry facilities on the property; no overnight parking of commercial motor vehicles; and a limitation that sales of alternative nicotine and vapor products not exceed 35% of gross sales exclusive of fuel sales.
Commissioner Steve Hersey moved an amendment to add a minimum 8-foot privacy fence along a neighboring property, require public restrooms and limit store hours to 6 a.m.–9 p.m. That amendment failed on a 3–2 vote (Garrett and Hersey in favor; McElhenney, Wooten and Chairman Sharp opposed).
After a brief recess and reconvening, the board voted to remove one staff-recommended condition as proposed and then approved the rezoning as amended: yea — Chairman Bill Sharp, Commissioner Tom McElhenney and Commissioner Jeff Wooten; nay — Commissioner Richard Garrett and Commissioner Steve Hersey.
The action includes the enumerated conditions and the resurvey/recordation requirement. The rezoning ordinance will take effect under the terms established in the motion and the recorded plat requirement.
Chairman Bill Sharp presided over the Zoning Public Hearing I where Rick McAllister, agent for the landowner, and two supporters spoke in favor and one resident spoke in opposition. Planning and Development staff recommended approval with conditions including that the property be used only as stated in the application, that right- and left-turn lanes be installed per state and local guidelines, and that an accurate plat be resurveyed and recorded in the Superior Court of Putnam County within 120 days of approval.
Commissioners added additional conditions requiring warm-colored, downward-directed outdoor lighting to limit light pollution; a vegetative buffer where the site adjoins residential properties; exterior landscaping such as sod and shrubbery; screening for dumpsters; a requirement that security cameras cover key locations (including each gas pump, store entrances and points of sale) with recordings stored for a minimum of 30 days and viewable with accurate date/time stamps; a maximum exterior sign height of 60 inches; no public shower or laundry facilities on the property; no overnight parking of commercial motor vehicles; and a limitation that sales of alternative nicotine and vapor products not exceed 35% of gross sales exclusive of fuel sales.
Commissioner Steve Hersey moved an amendment to add a minimum 8-foot privacy fence along a neighboring property, require public restrooms and limit store hours to 6 a.m.–9 p.m. That amendment failed on a 3–2 vote (Garrett and Hersey in favor; McElhenney, Wooten and Chairman Sharp opposed).
After a brief recess and reconvening, the board voted to remove one staff-recommended condition as proposed and then approved the rezoning as amended: yea — Chairman Bill Sharp, Commissioner Tom McElhenney and Commissioner Jeff Wooten; nay — Commissioner Richard Garrett and Commissioner Steve Hersey.
The action includes the enumerated conditions and the resurvey/recordation requirement. The rezoning ordinance will take effect under the terms established in the motion and the recorded plat requirement.
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