The Oconee County Planning and Code Enforcement Department has issued a building permit for Burger King, the first of two fast food restaurants to be built on Hog Mountain Road opposite the three-school complex at the corner of at Hog Mountain Road and Mars Hill Road in Butler’s Crossing.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in early November, according to the permit application.
The county also has issued a build-out permit for Mama’s Boy in the Falls of Oconee Complex on Old Macon Highway opposite the Athens Ridge student complex. Work on that build-out is expected to be completed by the middle of October.
The Planning Commission, at its regular meeting on Monday night, is to take up a request for a rezone of just less than five acres on the south side of High Shoals Road to bring an existing reception hall into compliance by converting the property to a commercial zoning classification.
The Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. at the Courthouse in Watkinsville.
Burger King
The Board of Commissioners, over opposition from Sheriff Scott Berry, last year rezoned 2 acres of land on the south side of Hog Mountain Road just east of Butler’s Crossing for two fast food restaurants.
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| Sign Promoting Mama's Boy |
The Sheriff was joined by citizens in opposing the rezone because of the congestion in the area due to traffic generated by Oconee Primary School, Oconee Elementary School, and Oconee Middle School, across from the two proposed restaurants.
The permit issued by the county for the Burger King is to Premier Kings Inc. of Montgomery, Ala., and is for a 3,410-square-foot building.
Oconee County Utility Department documents indicate water and sewer capacity was purchased for a facility seating 62 persons.
Site development plans submitted to the county show a drive-through operation.
The restaurant will be on the eastern-part of the lots approved for the two restaurants.
The permit, signed by county Building Inspector Russ Henson, is undated, but the permit application was dated Aug. 15.
Mama’s Boy
The Mama’s Boy permit is for build-out of 4,100 square feet in Building 400 at the rear of the Falls of Oconee retail complex.
The building overlooks McNutt Creek and the falls created by the dam of for an old mill pond.
The Utility Department records indicates the restaurant will have 120 seats.
The building, prior to build out, had differing levels with a large glass window in the rear looking out onto the creek and falls.
The permit, dated Aug. 2, was to Kelly Mahoney, 8771 Macon Highway, registered agent for Falls Oconee LLC, owner of the shopping and retail complex.
The tenant was listed as Mama’s Boy of Athens. An existing Mama’s Boy restaurant is on Oak Street in Athens.
The Board of Commissions on Aug. 1 approved a beer and wine license for a convenience store planned for one of the other buildings in Falls of Oconee.
Rice Rezone
The Laura H. Rice Trust is asking the Planning Commission to recommend to the Board of Commissioners that 4.7 acres at 5414 High Shoals Road between Bishop and North High Shoals be rezoned for business use to allow for continued use of a barn for receptions.
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| Reception Hall Photo From Zoning Application |
The acreage is part of a larger 305.6-acre tract that was planned and developed as a private, equestrian estate, according to the rezone narrative. Although a few horses remain on the property, the stables are no longer being used for equestrian purposes, the narrative states.
One of the stables is used for wedding receptions and other similar events, and the rezone application would convert the acreage around the stable to business use while leaving the other acreage zoned for agricultural use.
Oconee County has rezoned other properties with similar uses for business in recent years. The Cotton Gin on SR 15 south of Watkinsville was rezoned in early 2016 to allow the business operation in what had formerly been agricultural facilities.
The planning staff has recommended approval of the request by the Rice Trust.
