Planning commission recommends Cafe Racer rezoning with DOT coordination and neighborhood conditions

Cafe Racer representatives asked the commission to rezoning a roughly one‑third‑acre parcel and assemble it with an adjacent PVC parcel so the restaurant with drive‑thru can be developed as part of a larger planned village commercial center. Neighbors said they would support development that includes several safeguards: safer driveway alignment, a pedestrian crossing with ADA treatments, a stop/traffic control review at the West Village Way/Atlanta Road approaches, orientation of the drive‑thru away from the 4400 West residences, and an enclosed dumpster out of sight from nearby homes.

Applicant representatives said the site is constrained by steep grades, which limits how the building and drive‑thru can be flipped on the lot; they said they are not seeking 24‑hour operation and generally expect hours similar to other local restaurants (roughly 6 a.m.–11 p.m., with limited later hours on weekend nights at some locations). Cobb DOT recommended a right‑in/right‑out configuration at the principal access nearest Atlanta Road and said final alignment should be set during plan review rather than as a zoning stipulation.

The commission recommended approval of the rezoning to assemble the parcel into the PVC designation but attached recommendations (not strict zoning stipulations for this limited rezoning step) that the applicant coordinate with DOT to refine driveway alignment and access (likely right‑in/right‑out), provide a pedestrian crossing to link West Village Way, incorporate landscape buffering and a concealed dumpster location, and continue outreach to the neighboring 4400 West community; commissioners also discussed limiting overnight hours and suggested hours be set or confirmed with the district commissioner.