Monday, January 20, 2025

Epps Bridge Centre Developer Asking Oconee County To Modify Zoning To Allow For Oil Change Shop And Car Wash

***Request Before Planning Commission***

Frank Bishop wants the county to allow him to change the concept plan for a 2.5 acre parcel in his Epps Bridge Centre as well as the list of allowed uses for the land so he can add an automotive oil change and lubrication shop and car wash to the acreage.

The 2.5 acre parcel, owned by Bishop’s Epps Bridge Centre II LLC, sits in front of a 13.8 acre parcel also owned by Epps Bridge Centre LLC and occupied by Hobby Lobby.

The 2.5 acre parcel abuts the 23.2 acre parcel owned by the Oconee County Industrial Development Authority and occupied by Costco.

The oil change and lubrication shop and car wash, if approved by the county, would be next door to the petroleum pumps at Costco.

The request for the change in the rezone conditions is scheduled to be before the Planning Commission at 6 p.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 21) and before the Board of Commissioners at its meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 4.

Both meetings are held at in the Commission Chamber of the county Administrative Building, 7635 Macon Highway, north of Watkinsville.

Rezone Request Details

Bishop is asking for two changes in the conditions of the rezone for what is Epps Bridge Centre II, across the Oconee Connector from the original Epps Bridge Centre I.

From Rezone Documents
Blue Dot Is On Site Of Rezone Request
(Click To Enlarge)

He is asking the county to amend the concept plan approved with the March 1, 2016, rezone for Epps Bridge Centre II to “to allow construction of an Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shop and a Car Wash.”

He also is asking for an amendment to the allowed uses “on the property to include: Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops; Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Stores; Automotive Repair and Maintenance, except Car Washes; General Automotive Repair; and Car Washes.”

The 2016 rezone changed the designation of the property from A-1 (Agricultural District) to B-2 (Highway Business) for a shopping center development.

The 2.5 acre parcel, officially at 6000 Parkway Boulevard, is designated in the rezone plans as an out-parcel for the shopping center.

The narrative included in the 2016 rezone application indicated the approved uses were retail, banking, and restaurants.

The approved 2016 concept plan indicated the out-lot would have a 15,000 square foot retail building.

Proposed Uses

Bishop is proposing to develop instead an automotive oil change and lubrication shop and a car wash on the site.

Submitted Representative Photos
From Rezone Narrative

The oil change shop is proposed to be 2,090 square feet in size, and the car wash is proposed to be 4,680 square feet.

The concept plan submitted with the rezone narrative shows the oil change shop closest to the Costco fuel pumps and the car wash along Parkway Boulevard.

Representative photos submitted with the narrative show a Valvoline Instant Oil Change store and a Super Star Car Wash.

The Bishop request is the sole item on the agenda for the Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday.

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