Planning commission backs Commercial Limited rezoning with nightclub excluded, defers final hazardous-chemical language

East Point Planning and Zoning Commission members on Monday signaled support for recommending a city-initiated rezoning of an unzoned parcel to the Commercial Limited (CL) district while keeping a specific exclusion for nightclubs, but they postponed a final decision on language that would restrict certain hazardous chemicals until the regular meeting next week.

Director Smith, presenting staff’s draft condition, read a proposed restriction that would bar “the use, storage, processing, or distribution of hazardous or toxic chemicals associated with industrial operations, bulk storage activities, or chemicals manufacturing” while exempting normal retail and maintenance quantities. “This condition shall not restrict customary quantities of materials incidental to normal commercial occupancy, building mechanical systems, routine maintenance activities, or standard retail or service operations,” Smith said.

The discussion grew out of community concern after a prior application raised questions about chemicals used in ice-making and pool maintenance. One commissioner urged caution about listing specific substances because doing so could unintentionally ban routine commercial activities. “If we go to specific chemicals, do you have a list of specific chemicals? I think that we may set precedent,” Smith said.

Another commissioner said a nightclub exclusion already addresses the community’s main disturbance concerns and cautioned against overly restrictive language that could prevent viable businesses. “I believe that limiting it and saying exclude nightclubs would be sufficient for this particular zoning,” the commissioner said.

A participant who has observed the neighborhood warned about pool chemicals, citing personal experience with chlorine and acid: “Chlorine and the acids used to shock pools are really, really toxic,” the speaker said, arguing that an environmental-use limitation could remain in the condition.

Commissioners agreed to proceed with recommending the CL zoning and to include exclusion number 13 (nightclub) in the staff report. The commission directed staff to refine the hazardous-chemical language and said the item will be finalized and put to a vote at the regular Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on March 19 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

No final vote on the rezoning or on the hazardous-chemical wording occurred at the work session; the commission acted only to recommend the change forward with the nightclub exclusion and to review the precise condition wording next week.